Test rig investment set to reap rewards for Ingimex
Mar 06
The decision to invest in £70,000 worth of testing equipment is part of a wider strategy to take Ingimex into Europe within the next three years.
The decision to invest in a servo hydraulic test facility is expected to reap dividends for Telford-based body specialist Ingimex Ltd. The investment in £70,000 worth of testing equipment is part of a wider business strategy for the manufacturer, which produces 3,000 dropside, tipper and van bodies every year for leading brands of light commercial vehicles.
“Body conversions have traditionally been a bespoke product, so investing more in time and money to manufacture efficiently has always been a deliberate business decision to put us on a par with the automotive industry,” said Managing Director Justin Gallen. “We’re starting to see the rewards now, as we are in the unique position of being able to provide the standardised design, consistent build quality and validated performance that vehicle manufactures now require.”
For Technical Director Jeremy Gallen, the test facility takes the company a quantum leap forward in the UK market: “We have always carried out extensive static testing before releasing a design on the market and tested beyond the scope required by current UK legislation. The new rig is a step change in our engineering programme, as we can now test dynamic loading conditions that accurately mirror ‘in service’ conditions.”
“Essentially, the test rig will give us a greater understanding of the integration of the body and chassis. It allows for more accurate static tests – such as load and impact testing – and for additional dynamic testing, such as torsional testing and cyclic bending, for example. Such testing allows us to ‘engineer to purpose’ so that we can redistribute strengths to where they are required and avoid over-engineering.”
Two new appointments to the engineering department – to create an eight-strong team - reinforce the company’s commitment to research and development. Mechanical engineer Ben Cookson (23), who holds a First Class Honours degree from the University of Aston, takes on a new role as in-house specialist supervising all aspects of the new test facility. Swiss-born Stefan Mueller (30) holds a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Zurich Universit Winterthur, and an MSc in Automotive Engineering from University of Coventry. Stefan will be responsible for new product development as well as a broad range of engineering projects.
MD Justin Gallen added: “Now that we are past the investment hurdle, we intend to enhance the test facility year on year, with our aim to deliver world-class product that will take us into Europe within the next three years.”
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