RCM are delighted to announce an outstanding start to 2016 – with the business hitting a £1million turnover for the month of January, with February and March building on this success - achieving in excess of the million mark over consecutive months. This milestone is an indicator of the improved business performance achieved through targeted activity and subsequent sales growth of its full product range, as well as a significant growth within their A1 range of non-combustible building boards including Y-wall™ and Multipurpose™, used in over 18 metre applications.
The results represent a split of product sales comprising 75% building boards and 25% made up from the enhanced range of facade solutions. Through increasing the facades product portfolio, RCM can now offer an extensive range to their existing customers and generate interest from new clients.
Highlights
Project CSSB (Clinical Services Support Building), which is part of a three phase redevelopment of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital - scheduled for completion by early 2017, was a great success for RCM and their client, Prater. This redevelopment was the first project where RCM were able to work with their customer and offer design elements on their through wall product, including Y-wall™, airtightness solutions and an aluminium support frame as part of the overall solution.
Another highlight for the period was securing the Rathbone Market project which will be worth half a million in turnover to RCM when completed. The 680,000 sq ft Rathbone Market scheme, developed by English Cities Fund (ECF) - a joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal and General Property and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) - is part of the Canning Town & Custom House regeneration programme creating a new commercial district, new housing and a refreshed High Street within the Thames Gateway. RCM supplied Y-wall™, an airtightness solution, aluminium support frame and a Rimex composite cladding to the project.
Challenges and Solutions
Alongside every success story are associated challenges, which in RCM’s case included sourcing and appointing the additional skilled workforce to manage the increased growth within the facades division. The skills shortages within the industry have been widely reported and to overcome this challenge RCM implemented a recruitment drive to ensure the best candidate was identified for the role.
Other challenges such as managing the synergy of supply chain and scheduling for ‘just in time deliveries’ were overcome by appointing specific project managers and the careful co-ordination of logistics of material deliveries onsite - enabling RCM to cut, clearly mark materials and schedule delivery ensuring the installations were clear, precise and streamlined for the customer.
RCM’s First Board and Façade Cutting Machine
RCM have recently invested in a new state-of-the-art cutting machine. The benefit of the new machine has enabled boards and facades to be cut to size, minimising wastage and removing the need to cut onsite thus benefitting the client by saving time. By being able to supply key specialist contractors such as Alumet, Century Facades and Prater with bespoke buildings boards cut to size and facades to meet specific project requirements, RCM has seen a 20% increase in sales turnover as a result.
Naturally the commissioning of a new machine encounters challenges such as maximising utilisation and efficiencies. Training was essential once the installation and testing phase was finalised to ensure all technicians have an in-depth understanding of the machine and its capabilities to effectively use cutting forms to achieve economies of scale and minimise wastage – a benefit to both the customer and the environment. This has been so successful that a second machine is planned to be installed at the end of May 2016.
Ian Quinton, Managing Director of RCM said: “It’s been a phenomenal start to 2016, the results achieved by the teams at RCM speak for themselves and I would like to thank each member of staff for their dedication, loyalty and consistently exceeding our customer’s expectations. The purchase of the new cutting machine has enabled RCM to operate more efficiently, minimise wastage for the client and provide an enhanced service which has had a positive impact on our business and in turn our customers. RCM will be investing further in additional cutting and CNC machinery to enable us to be a leading supplier in the facade industry. ”
RCM Offer Informative CPD Seminars - For more details call 0845 1303725 or visit: www.buildingboards.co.uk
