PANELMASTERS POST ANOTHER YEAR OF PROGRESS
It’s full speed ahead for the co-founders of Warwickshire-based Southam Automation with the duo of Bob Ball and Brett Smith gearing up for what promises to be another busy year.
Demand for their Panelmaster fence panel production machinery continues to increase with customers from across the UK recognising the benefits of adopting an automated production process.
Based at Fenny Compton, the village made famous by the scandalous Post Office debacle that’s currently in the headlines, Bob and Brett are constantly adapting and evolving their machines to cater for an ever growing market.
Brett explained: “Fenny Compton is right in the centre of the UK, close to the motorway network which was why it was chosen by Mr Bates for meetings of those affected by the Post Office scandal. Whilst we do occasionally head out to meet potential customers, it makes far more sense for anyone interested in the Panelmaster to visit us here and see this engineering marvel in action.
“As we’ve mentioned before we’ll treat any potential customers to a pint in our local and might even throw in a bag of pork scratchings!
“Over the course of 2023 we continued to attract a raft of new customers with every machine we supply constructed to their bespoke needs. We’ve recently taken on two more workers in Nick and Anthony who are doing a sterling job.
“Bob and I use our engineering knowledge and experience to create machines that fit in perfectly with our client’s requirements and only very rarely do they require any maintenance.
“We have a strong reputation for reliability with many of our machines still going strong after decades of use,” added Brett.
Bob chipped in “Our main focus from day one has been to simplify the construction of both waney edge and feather edge panels but we’re now looking at other more complicated fence panels that are currently in demand.
“There’s very little in the way of standardisation aside of the mechanical processes. All of our customers have specific demands and we’ve always strived to construct our machines to the most demanding of standards.
“For instance, just looking at waney edge panels, you discover that there’s all sorts of sizes and specifications that are required. In fact there’s over a hundred different types of fencing panel out there so we’ll stay busy ensuring we can cater for whatever comes our way,” added Bob.
Main Line Timber, one of Southam Automation’s customers based just a few miles down the road, has produced an excellent video that demonstrates exactly how the Panelmaster works. It’s available to view on their Facebook page.
Brett concluded “We both love the challenge that this business brings and always enjoy meeting up with customers, both old and new. That’s what keeps us motivated!
“There’s very little out there that can match the output of the Panelmaster. No skilled know how is required and we’d encourage any timber yard and fencing supplier that might be interested in growing their production capabilities to pop over to Fenny Compton for a friendly chat with folks who understand their business.”
There could well be a pint and some pork scratchings waiting in Fenny Compton if you want your fencing panel operations to post increased profits!
Southam Automation Ltd
01295 770821 / 07902 789252
