Crane Garden Buildings launches state-of-the-art robotic paint line as part of 50th anniversary celebrations

Crane Garden Buildings, a UK leader in the manufacture and supply of premium garden buildings, has installed a state-of-the-art robotic spray paint line at its Norfolk headquarters.

Having been in the planning stages for a number of years, the multi-million pound conveyor line was finally revealed at a recent on-site event, which celebrated the family-run company’s 50th anniversary. This is the largest investment the business has ever made.  

Now fully operational, the investment is expected to be fundamental to Crane Garden Buildings’ plans to grow by 10% year-on-year over the forthcoming decade.

The new line is a power-and-free overhead conveyor that moves the company’s buildings through the factory, removing approximately half a million manual lifts a year. Once on the conveyor, panels pass through the robotic paint line, then into a drying system; this ensures the paint is applied and dried under consistent, ideal conditions.

As well as significantly improved health and safety for the factory team, it’ll offer greater consistency and precision, give the operators better control, and maximise factory space without having to purchase further land or facilities.

Crane Garden Buildings has also confirmed that no jobs will be impacted by the overhead conveyor’s installation. Instead, it’ll require a new skillset with factory operatives moving from manual labour-centric roles to software management.

 Looking to the future

Speaking about the new robotic line now being operational, James Crane, Owner of Crane Garden Buildings, said: “This new robotic line paint spray line is the biggest investment we’ve ever made, without question. It represents our commitment to growth and quality for the future.

“This has been in the works for nearly a decade. Robots eliminate human error and ensure a consistent, high-quality finish every time. However, the robot is just one part of the story. The entire production line is where the real value lies. We deal with over 10 million different permutations of building designs, and each is unique in size, colour, and components. Getting a system to manage that complexity has taken a lot of time.

“However, the real advantage of this line is that it eliminates around half a million manual lifts a year, which significantly improves health and safety for our team. We're shifting the skillset from manual labour to software management, which is a better fit for the new generation of workers. This new line also allows us to maximise use of existing space, so we don’t need to expand into a new facility. It also sets us up for the future, allowing for steady growth of around 10% per year over the next decade, without requiring more physical space.

“I’m extremely pleased, especially for our staff. We are, and always have been, a people-first company. The fact that we’re eliminating half a million manual lifts per year means that we’re safeguarding our employees’ health, which is the biggest win. Beyond that, the quality of our buildings is better than ever, which sets us apart in a crowded market.”

To find out more about Crane Garden Buildings, see www.cranegardenbuildings.co.uk.