bigHead engineers worked with Expert to custom design the machines, improving the quality of the technology used to make bonding fasteners.
“With this technology in place we can reduce the time spent on extra machining and secondary operations,” said director Matt Stevens, “and we anticipate a 30-40% increase in productivity, hence a very worthwhile investment. Investing for the long term has always been important to us.
“bigHead has been both a very successful family-owned company and a private equity (PE) financed entity. The PE venture with its inherent short termism was a short-lived phase and we are now part of the family-owned Bossard Group. Investment in the new machines also gives us a platform to scale our growing business as it meets increasing demand for composite panel fasteners beyond Europe, in Asia and USA.”
Over the last six months bigHead has also established a base for its composite fastening solutions development team within Cranfield University Technology Park, home to nearly 60 science, technology and knowledge-based businesses. bigHead is well-known for its project partnership role in working alongside clients, providing expert advice, instruction and test reports on all matters of composite fastening. The R&D team are vital to this function, developing new solutions and demonstration facilities.