| Specialist oil seal suppliers Blue Diamond has agreed a partnership arrangement with Textron fluid and power systems, part of the international Textron Inc conglomerate, which includes the makers of Bell helicopters and Cessna aircraft. It involves manufacture and delivery, according to Kanban principles, of all gaskets, lip seals, packings and O rings required by Textron Power Transmissions and Fluid Handling Products at six manufacturing sites in Europe plus another five in the USA.
Blue Diamond is directly responsible for servicing three sites in the UK and others in Sweden, France and Switzerland, while identical functions in the USA are being handled through Transcom under Blue Diamond’s guidance. In Europe alone the contract is worth to Blue Diamond about £500,00 per annum.
Why was Blue Diamond chosen for this critical operation? According to Chris Lodge, Textron’s Seals & Gaskets Commodity Team Leader and Director of European Aftermarket Operations: “In addition to lowest total cost, covering quality, price, delivery, technical support and other details, crucial factors included a willingness to become integrated into Textron manufacturing, coupled with flexibility to progress with advancing needs. As well as stocking and supplying seals and gaskets in a host of different types and sizes, |
Blue Diamond is just as interested in customising products to suit our needs exactly, and this will become increasingly valuable in years to come as we develop technologies and designs which call on the supplier’s skills in responding with upgraded performance.”
As a preparatory stage, Blue Diamond conducted a detailed audit of all the hundreds of types of seals, O rings, gaskets and packings currently required for pumps, gearboxes and other transmission drive mechanisms. This was followed by recommendations for rationalisation of component types. In future there is expected to be considerable expansion in bespoke solutions. |
