Subscribe"When we first made a presentation to the PAKEX Inward Mission in 1991," says Group Chairman Graham Hayes, "Bradman Lake was a medium-sized engineering company with a commitment to innovation and big ambitions."
“Now we are a global group with some 3000 machines in operation around the world, manufacturing plants in Britain, the United States and continental Europe and a management consultancy able to monitor total production efficiencies. Sales this year will exceed $28 million with annual growth, even in today’s tough markets, around 12% a year. The Profile attached gives the facts.”
From the start, growth has been based on two strong foundations – application of the latest advances in technology to the design of cartoning machinery and an old-fashioned commitment to customer service.
It was Bradman Lake that introduced the world to Flexible Carton Control, the lugless closure system that replaced chain and carton flight timing. Today, its top load closers still feature FCC flexible rubber fingers but now, like the end loaders, they have all servo motor drives and electronic motion control via operator touch screen.
In 2003, it is robotics that set the pace in cartoning development and, once again, Bradman Lake is a leading player. The company is manufacturing and marketing one of the world’s fastest collating and loading systems. Linked with its own carton erectors and closers, the LJ Toploader is creating completely integrated, fully automated lines for high-speed unit and multiple packaging.
Now, at PPMA 2003, a medium speed machine is being launched, bringing top load robotics to companies packing up to 300 products per minute. News release attached.
But high technology packaging is not suitable for, and not required by, all companies. So Bradman Lake still supplies simple, robust semi-automatic machines to small customers and developing countries, backing them with extended warranties and lifetime after-sales service.
So that, when a machine finally approaches the end of its natural life, Bradman Lake is still there to give support. One fifteen-year-old veteran was recently rebuilt to international frozen food standards and is now helping to launch a new product range.
Advanced engineering and dedicated customer service have brought Bradman Lake to its present strong position.But there is another essential factor – the ability to perceive and grasp business opportunity. “So keep an eye on Bradman Lake in the months to come,” says Graham Hayes. “You may find that the best is yet to come.”
Two fully automated, servo driven, SL6000 end load carton lines with product diverters and in feed systems installed by Bradman Lake pack Scottish Oatcakes in the Simmers Bakery plant in Edinburgh.