Vegetable equipment manufacturer Tong Engineering has officially opened the doors on its new 8,500 square metre factory on the edge of the company’s hometown of Spilsby, Lincolnshire, after a three-year, two-phase project to build the facility.
“Since we commenced works on our first-phase building at the end of 2019, we’ve been working towards the day where all departments of the business could operate from one site,” Tong Engineering’s managing director, Edward Tong, said.
“It’s been a pleasure to finally open our factory doors to showcase our new manufacturing facilities, as well as demonstrate the part that every employee and each department at Tong Engineering plays in manufacturing our wide range of custom-built handling equipment.
“During the build project, we were fortunate to achieve the sale of and smooth transition from our heritage site in the town that we occupied for almost 90 years, and we’re delighted that we now have the facilities and space to maximise our manufacturing capability.”
Investments inside the factory include new shot-blast, paint spraying and powder coating facilities. The shot blast unit ensures materials are properly prepared prior to the high-quality paint process that uses either powder or a two-part primer and paint, for a long-lasting finish as standard.
Standing at 11m high, all three buildings within the new facility are fitted with over-head lifting cranes, making equipment movements much easier, as well as bringing huge benefits in the final assembly of large equipment and turnkey handling lines.
A high-speed fibre laser-cutter that precisely cuts large quantities of mild and stainless steel features in Tong’s metal-preparation departments that also house press brakes, CNC saws and lathes. All of these are used to manufacture equipment parts and components that are subsequently assembled and welded within the mild and stainless fabrication departments.
Finally, alongside some traditional stores racking and shelving, the Tong stores department houses two 9.0m tall storage towers that hold more than 20t of spare parts and components in each tower. At the touch of a button, any tray within the storage tower can be called upon for easy picking of parts before it’s returned to its shelved location.
Tong Engineering’s chairman, Charles Tong, said he was very proud that the landmark project had been achieved during his time at the business.
“It’s been our goal for many years to operate from a purpose-built site, and very importantly in our hometown that thrives on the business that local employment brings,” he added. “Our new facility now fully occupies the seven-acre site, and we’re very pleased with the efficiencies that have been created with all aspects of the business now under one roof.”
