Welcome to PMS Diecasting
Gordon Panter - Managing Director
History
Precision Manufacturing Services Ltd, a precision toolroom, was originally founded in 1975 by my father Neil Panter when we first moved to Sheffield. It was three years later in 1978 that PMS Diecasting Ltd was established at Masbrough, Rotherham. The toolroom continued but more as a support service for the zinc diecasting foundry which created an opportunity for the design and manufacture of products for the handtool market. Neil was a very practical man and did many home improvement jobs himself, he also had an inventive capability which enabled him to manufacture new products with functional benefits to the user. Hacksaws and trimming knives were the first of his products but it was the woodsaw that really created a dynamic and successful business. Neil developed a manufacturing process that started with a coil of hardened steel and after a series of in-line operations ended with a cropped to length blade, toothed, set, hardpointed and precision ground. This process was so successful that every DIY retail outlet and most handtool distributors sold an ‘own brand’ saw which was made and branded by PMS in Rotherham. In just 5 years PMS was the largest volume manufacturer of handaws in the UK. Every area of the business was automated and the injection moulding department supplied handles which were assembled and ultrasonically welded together by robotics. With such demand for woodsaw products the zinc diecasting division became neglected and it was decided in 2000 that the operation would be sold as it no longer featured in the long term future of PMS Handtools.
PMS Now
In November 2000, myself and Robin Mokryj bought the business and we were successful in securing new contracts which enabled us to invest in the very latest diecasting and robotics technology. Previous experience of high volume automation and injection moulding gave us the ability to seek solutions which would generate cost effective and consistent performance. Over a number of years PMS has continually updated its methods and we can now proudly say that we have most technically advanced zinc diecasting foundry in the UK. Our business philosophy has always been to share wealth with the employees and we encourage all staff to invest in the Company share scheme which pays a dividend during the year and hopefully will provide a generous payout when our staff are ready to retire. During 2008 we have expanded our factory into an adjacent unit and this has doubled the manufacturing floor space ready for additional diecasting capacity which is scheduled to arrive September 2008 and in November 2008.
Our technology does not just include the very latest and best zinc diecasting machines, it also incorporates 6 axis robotics, part identification, automated part separation, 100% in line vision quality control and management control system that keeps everything working as is should do. It makes a huge difference to our performance and customer satisfaction and it puts a healthy profit onto the bottom line of the business. We are very proud of our achievements and they don’t stop here, we still believe we are at the very early stages of our development and there is much more to do. Please note that not all zinc diecasting projects fit the way we work but if they can be incorporated into manufacturing cells we will provide exceptional consistent quality and competitive pricing.
Please e-mail if you require any further information.
Thank You Gordon Panter
