-
End of year reflections: Interview with David Frame
2023 has been another busy and exciting year for Barum & Dewar and with the recent announcement that B&D Group was acquired by Macfarlane Group in October 2023, we end the year with B&D Managing Director, David Frame, reflecting on the journey so far.
For you, what have been some of the key successes over the last 25 years?
25 years is quite a long time and as you can imagine there have been both successes and some failures; in truth, it is the odd failure that provides the valuable lessons for future successes. A key success of note would be an early decision to widen our product offering, adding industry-leading products from globally recognised brands such as Zarges and Peli, enhancing our core design and metal fabrication capabilities. Over the years we have continued to expand the range of OEM cases, diversifying options for customers within our portfolio and adding textiles, timber and corrugate solutions.
In 2010, we set up our own foam factory, bringing in-house and under direct control all foam fabrication, ensuring quality and reducing lead times for all clients. Notable contract wins in both the Defence and Space sectors have helped propel Barum & Dewar forward and become recognised as one of the leading specialist packaging companies in the UK.
The glue to our success has been our ability to attract, develop and retain a dedicated and motivated team – passionate about detail, dedicated to the customer experience and extremely knowledgeable. It is the B&D team that is our biggest success.
B&D has built a strong reputation for its ability to solve complex packaging problems, what’s the biggest challenge you have faced to date?
Challenges are never far from our door, we thrive on them and often take on the projects others shy away from. When we first started to design and supply satellite containers into the Space sector in the late 1990’s we had little experience and everything was new to us- the terminology, specific requirements of this sector and a realisation of the huge responsibility we were taking on to protect a satellite which had taken several years of development and construction, there was no second chance! 25 years on and we are recognised as the go-to company for satellite and space hardware containers not just in the UK but now with an increasing international client base. At around 40 feet in length, our custom-manufactured aluminium periscope containers have been safely storing and transporting periscopes and masts for the UK Navy’s submarine fleet and are some of the largest containers ever produced by B&D – an annual contract to repair and recertify these containers has been awarded to B&D for over 20 years.
Space, Defence and Aerospace are all very technical and complex sectors, what makes B&D so suited to these sectors specifically?
Knowledge and experience of these sectors is key and B&D has immersed itself in working collaboratively with many of the leading companies to gain a deep understanding of how they operate and of their needs and challenges. B&D is an engineering company at heart with a curious and innovative mindset, constantly asking questions and embracing change. We are fanatical about detail and client engagement so work best on a collaborative basis. These sectors are understandably demanding with high expectations but our track record of delivering exceptional results on time and to budget means we have gained the trust of our clients and a reputation for delivering time and time again.
MacFarlane Packaging is highly regarded in the industry, what are you most looking forward to in this next exciting chapter for B&D?
B&D has joined not only one of the UK’s largest packaging suppliers but a company formed in 1949 with core values at its heart that remain just as important today and this aligns perfectly with the B&D ethos. Looking ahead we see challenges and opportunities in equal measure as we look to widen our client network and increase our product and service offerings. With the support of the Macfarlane family of businesses, we will have the opportunity to work together offering enhanced packaging services not just throughout the UK but into Europe and beyond.
B&D has a loyal team, many who have been with the business for a long time. What opportunities will the acquisition give them?
The B&D team is not just loyal and long-standing but ambitious and excited by this recent acquisition. The opportunity to be part of a bigger business brings not only increased security and certainty for the future but also fresh challenges and access to a wider network of experienced colleagues where shared ideas and skills can be developed.
B&D and MacFarlane Packaging share a similar ethos around quality and responsible practices, how else do you feel the businesses align?
Ambition. B&D are joining at a time of growth and expansion across the Macfarlane Group becoming the third acquisition made in 2023. Our businesses share a commitment to customer service and the client experience is what it is all about. The challenge is to bring our combined strengths together to further add to that experience, focusing on the detail and differentiating us from the competition.
How will the acquisition support B&D’s existing clients?
It should provide them with reassurance as not only will they continue to deal with the existing team at B&D but they will have access to a wider range of products and services including regional logistics hubs throughout the UK. In addition, they will recognise the increased financial stability an acquisition of this scale brings and the background support available not only to B&D but to our clients as well.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our clients and our team for all their work and support in 2023 and I look forward to continued success in 2024.
-
JOSCAR accreditation renewed ahead of 2024
Barum & Dewar is delighted to confirm our renewal on the JOSCAR supplier accreditation register ahead of a number of upcoming projects in 2024. Having first obtained the qualification in 2019, the team at Barum & Dewar works hard to maintain the standards of JOSCAR and we are pleased that we have once again satisfied the requirements to become fully compliant on the register.
The Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR) is an accreditation system that is highly valued by large purchasers in the Defence, Space, Security and Aerospace sectors which shows that suppliers are fit for business and identifies organisations who have shown commitment to achieving the credentials and live the values that the accreditation system stand for.
The open system of information that JOSCAR provides also benefits us as a supplier as it allows us to demonstrate our level of customer compliance, quickly qualify any 3rdparty suppliers we may use and identify areas where we can be continuously improving our business which in turn allows us to provide the excellent level of service to our customers that Barum & Dewar has become synonymous with.
Focused on reducing the time, cost and resources needed to provide information to major customers as a risk management tool, it objectively assesses potential vendor risks and areas of compliance before suppliers can obtain accreditation.
A cross-sector collaboration solution, the accreditation is supported by some of the largest purchasers in the defence community such as Leonardo, BAE Systems and the Ministry of Defence, and indicates that Barum & Dewar has fulfilled the appropriate credentials.
-
Barum & Dewar secures six figure project with MoD facilitator
Barum & Dewar is pleased to announce a recent six figure contract win with an international MoD facilitator, providing 23 transit containers to their UK base for global deployment.
Initially we were invited to bid for a design and build project to provide a new, more robust and accessible transit container solutions for their fuel blending rig product. The proposed solution comprised a transit container with concealed stowage for hose adaptors, large fuel hoses and the fuel blending rig.
Our solution had to ensure the equipment was housed safely, securely and which kept the hose adaptors clean. The selected container comprised a heavy duty base section and a lift-off top-hat lid, with an integral stowage compartment within the base which kept the key components away from risk of dirt and debris, all designed to meet the required protection specification for global deployment supporting the UK armed forces.
The client commented, “We were delighted at the approach B&D took and the attention to detail in providing a design suitable to accommodate the various pieces of equipment that the containers need to carry. The project was swiftly and efficiently executed and all containers delivered to spec and on time”.
-
Further contract win with UK MOD
Barum & Dewar is pleased to announce another contract win for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), working alongside a leading solutions integrator, to replace and refit foam inserts into another 250+ cases, allowing the MoD to repurpose a formerly redundant packaging solution.
The project has been won through a competitive bid process involving several other suppliers and this success demonstrates our competitiveness and agility in approach when working with solutions integrators and the end client.
We recognise the need to maximise the lifetime value of the products we design, manufacture and supply and the benefits to our clients of our repair and refurbishment services. After the initial kick off meeting took place last week, we are now ready to take delivery of the cases to begin the rework.
Mark Speck, Regional Sales Manager, commented, “We continue to secure projects in the Defence sector, winning work for our extensive experience and deep knowledge of sector requirements. This specific project demonstrates that new equipment is not always needed and that a more sustainable and cost effective solution can be to refurbish existing solutions, ready for redeployment.”
-
Successful delivery of 250 cases to MOD
Barum & Dewar is pleased to announce the successful delivery of 250 cases with bespoke foam inserts to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Having previously supplied multiple protective packaging solutions to the MOD, we have an extensive understanding of their requirements and were able to fulfil the order two weeks ahead of schedule.
The MoD confirmed they were extremely impressed by the approach taken by our team and are delighted with the quality of the initial offering. For this specific requirement, Italian manufactured GT Line Explorer cases were chosen, fitted out with custom foam inserts manufactured and installed at our foam facility in Southampton.
Mark Speck, Regional Sales Manager, commented, “This is yet another example of our ability to exceed client expectations, delivering two weeks ahead of schedule and we look forward to supporting with additional solutions in the very near future”.