Sprayer Specialist Opens New Factory
Sands Agricultural Machinery (SAM), the Norfolk-based self-propelled sprayer manufacturer, has underlined its commitment to British agriculture and farm equipment manufacturing with a move to a completely new factory.
Over the past 50 years the company had gradually expanded on the site where it was founded, at Brumstead near Stalham. Here, Neal Sands built his first self-propelled sprayer for the contracting business developed from the family farm. Neighbours requested similar machines, and the first production Sands self-propelled sprayer was launched to the farming public at the Royal Norfolk Show in 1975.
With business continuing to expand in recent years, Neal and his son Thomas had been seeking a new site on which to expand production and boost efficiencies. Following its purchase and considerable investment in redevelopment, the new facility, just a few minutes away, at Catfield, was officially opened in late May, following a move during December-January. Of the site’s 3.6ha (9ac), one-third is under cover, with converted or purpose-built modern buildings, significant investment in construction and conversion having been made before the move.
“We have created a layout which maximises production efficiency, where we can work on six machines at once and unfold 40m booms inside,” says Thomas.
“But we also have potential for future expansion, with sufficient space to extend production by another eight bays if required. The production facilities are complemented by significant investment in new shotblasting and painting facilities, and by offices, stores and the service department.
“As we make many components in-house, high steel quality is important, which justifies the investment in shotblasting and spray paint facilities, with a large part of that in a new electronic 2K mixing system. This also gives us the ability to strip back, shotblast and respray used machines where desired.
“Production efficiency has been boosted with the installation of six overhead cranes, plus smaller workbench units, while magnetic technology helps move large steel sheets, reducing the need for forklifts.”
Considerable investment has been made in environmental and energy-saving features – rainwater is harvested across the buildings, feeding two 25,000-litre tanks, and most roofs feature solar panels.
The parts department for machine construction and supply to customers is now under one roof, with a six-tier stacking system and full computer organisation. Some £2.6m of stock comprising 26,000 lines was moved from the former premises.
Currently the plant produces approximately three machines/month, but this is expected to rise to four. Approximately 4,000 Sands SAM sprayers have been built in just over 50 years, and can today be found across the UK and Ireland, and as far afield as Sweden and New Zealand. The current Sands range comprises models from 3,000-6,000 litres capacity with steel boom widths from 24-40m. Sands provides a full retail and support service, with after-sales, servicing and a trade-in route to a replacement machine.
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