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Product category: Casting and Forging Subcontracting Services
News Release from: Floform | Subject: Ford Q1 status
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 05 September 2007

Cold forming firm gains Ford Q1 status

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Cold forming company that shapes ferrous and non-ferrous alloys such as copper, nickel and aluminium into millions of component products a year has gained Ford Q1 status.

Welshpool, UK-based alloy and steel parts manufacturer Floform has been selected as one of Ford Motor Company's preferred suppliers after receiving the prestigious automotive quality standard, Q1 status Q1 accreditation is given in recognition of operational excellence and exceptional customer commitment and is required to supply Ford around the world

The certification enables Floform to join an elite group of international suppliers of excellence and follows closely its recent management buyout by highly-experienced managing director Philip Lawrence and commercial director Mark Langston.

Lawrence said, "The Q1 certification is fantastic news for the company within months of the MBO and demonstrates just what can be achieved if you make the necessary investments within your business".

Floform already holds a number of stringent quality standards including ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949:2002 and ISO 14001:2004.

However, suppliers within the Automotive Industry are increasingly being called upon to prove their ability to perform and to deliver to tough international standards.

Ford's Q1 Program, which makes suppliers responsible for the total quality of the goods and services they provide to Ford, is the most rigorous of its type.

By gaining this accreditation, Floform believes this will help the business take advantage of new market opportunities while helping to realise its ambitious international growth plans.

Added Lawrence, "Q1 suppliers are expected to perform at a certain level, but more importantly, put the tools in place to maintain excellence and to improve their quality with each passing year.

This is very much in keeping with Floform's commitment to a total quality excellence model and we are confident this will help to boost the business' growth over the next few years".

Commenting on the accreditation, Stuart Scott of Ford's Supplier Technical Assistance said, "It has been a pleasure to award a Welsh-based company with the Q1 accreditation.

This accreditation is one of only three awarded in the UK by Ford Power Train in 2007 and one of ten awarded in Europe".

Mike Robinson, also of Ford's Supplier Technical Assistance added, "Q1 is the benchmark of the automotive industry and shows that Floform have achieved world-class supplier performance.

It is a testament to the efforts of the entire workforce at Floform in achieving this prestigious award".

* Cold forming technology - to date Floform has been at the forefront of using cold forming technology to shape ferrous and non-ferrous alloys such as copper, nickel and aluminium into millions of component products a year.

The components are then used by companies such as Volvo, Hyundai, Bosch and Perkins to improve the life efficiency and emissions of automotive engines.

In addition the business supplies diode bases and semi-conductor mounts to global companies including International Rectifier, Microsemi and Powerex.

The company currently employs around 100 people at its Henfaes Lane plant in Welshpool, Powys, Mid Wales.

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