Dave Rouse, our Technical Design Engineer, discusses all things large scale packaging design, from initial client briefs to technical challenges and the finished product. 

Barum & Dewar has a long history of supplying large, bespoke containers to key clients in the space and defence sector and work alongside businesses such as Airbus, SSTL and the Ministry of Defence. In the space sector, our large bespoke containers are used to transport equipment such as satellite hardware including small satellites, parts for larger satellites and a number of related items. In the defence sector, we’ve developed bespoke packaging for a wide array of equipment with some of the largest containers being for submarine periscopes.

We work closely with our clients on these types of projects to ensure we design a product that is completely fit for purpose and will match their needs. At the initial stage we run through how they intend to use the product through its whole lifecycle so we can establish what features they need, for example if it needs waterproofing or must be airtight or whether it will need lifting points or forklift points. We’re not afraid to question and challenge our clients to make sure we design something that works completely for them, and we’ll never take the easiest option.

When designing products to such a large scale there are many factors to be taken into consideration. One of the biggest challenges we face is designing something that’s as compact and lightweight as possible whilst still being completely robust so it’s important for us to get this right. Our Creo 3D CAD modelling system helps us visualise the entire product at the design stage so we can test different scenarios and ultimately find the right balance.

There are also several technical challenges throughout the design process, one of these being selecting the appropriate shock mounts so that when the equipment is subject to vibrations and movement during transit it isn’t at any risk of being damaged. To mitigate this, we work closely with shock and vibration control specialists, Socitec who run advanced calculations with our client’s data, for example the item’s maximum G loading, to determine the correct shock mounts.

Something we are seeing more often with our large bespoke containers, especially concerning space hardware, are more stringent health and safety procedures coming into play which is leading to higher test ratings. For example, on large containers the testing ratings we used to see were around 1.2x the gross mass but now some clients are requesting 2.5x so we’ve had to change the way we design. We’re very adaptable to our client requirements so we’ve been able to accommodate this well.

We see our clients coming back to us time and time again for large, bespoke packaging and that is down to the interaction and collaboration we have with them throughout the entirety of the project. Our clients feel assured we will deliver a product that works for them because we are focused on asking the right questions and are obsessive about detail. This translates directly into the quality of our products as we are so committed to getting the design right from the very beginning.

With over 80 years’ experience in aluminium construction operating from three production plants in Europe, Zarges has been a key strategic supply partner to Barum & Dewar for almost 25 years.

With shared corporate values, close attention to detail and an unwillingness to compromise on quality Zarges have long been a trusted and reliable supply partner to B&D. With a deep industry knowledge and high levels of technical expertise B&D are regularly sought to advise on and design suitable product protection solutions. The wide range of high quality aluminium cases and containers from Zarges are an excellent foundation for B&D to develop bespoke protective packaging solutions for clients whose requirements demand even greater sophistication and features.

The two businesses communicate openly with one another, with the technical teams regularly in contact to share and obtain data that ensures any enhancements and added features work seamlessly with their designs. Having worked together for so long there is a huge degree of trust between both teams with ideas and suggestions shared openly for the benefit of our clients. B&D’s direct access to the technical support offered by Zarges underpins both the relationship that exists as well as ensuring B&D are up to date with the very latest product and technical developments.

Neil Harper, Sales Manager at Zarges said of the relationship:

“You can really see the deep industry knowledge that Barum & Dewar has. Their team has a huge level of technical expertise and their determination to find the right solution for the customer is admirable.”

He continued,

“Zarges prides itself on the quality of our products and in many sectors, we are regarded as the industry standard. It is vital that we trust our partners and we have complete confidence that Barum & Dewar will always align themselves to our exceptional delivery and customer service standards with an outstanding result for our clients. Recently, hazardous goods transportation has become a big challenge in the UK and Europe with ADR regulations limiting the way in which the end users can transport goods, for example lithium-ion batteries now require very specialist transport. This is a growth market for Zarges, who works closely with industry bodies to ensure its products meet the guidelines. This is an example of the type of industry knowledge that is shared openly between Zarges and Barum & Dewar, which enables us to stay on top of the ever-evolving regulations and better serve our clients.”

David Frame, Managing Director at Barum & Dewar commented:

“Our partnership with Zarges has seen the delivery of some amazing projects and provided Barum & Dewar with the opportunity to demonstrate not only its own capabilities but to showcase the benefits of true co-operation and collaboration. Whether it is the delivery of high performance Mitraset 19” racks to a key defence project, the addition of shock mounted plates within a K475 container for a space client or foam filled K470 lightweight containers to an industrial customer the results never fail to impress”

Off the back of our Foam Facility retaining its ISO 9001, we are pleased to confirm Barum & Dewar has also retained the internationally recognised quality standard. Having retained this accreditation for over 20 years, Barum & Dewar is dedicated to maintaining the stringent quality requirements required by the assessors from accredited certification body, NQA.

ISO 9001 is a standard that sets out the requirements for a quality management system within which an organisation demonstrates its ability to consistently provide products or services to meet customer and legal requirements, enhancing customer satisfaction and opening the way to continual improvement.

With quality at the core of Barum & Dewar’s offering, it’s very important to us to retain the ISO 9001 accreditation and demonstrate to our customers the commitment we make to designing and manufacturing the highest quality packaging solutions. With the ever-evolving requirements of the assessment, we are always looking to where improvements can be made and how we can stay ahead of the competition.

Andy Harrison, Technical Design Manager at Barum & Dewar said:

“We are delighted that the Barum & Dewar team has retained its ISO 9001 accreditation off the back of our Foam Facility also being successful in their assessment. This ensures our quality standards are internationally recognised for another year to come and sets us out on a fantastic start for 2022.”

Barum & Dewar is delighted to announce our renewal on the JOSCAR supplier accreditation register for 2022, having first obtained the qualification in 2019. The Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR) enables companies in the Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space sectors to identify qualified suppliers. 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.

JOSCAR is a cross-sector collaboration solution which reduces 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. Common supplier data is then held in a central system allowing information to be accessed by all participating buying organisations.

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 3^rd party 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.

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. Becoming a member assures our customers and partners that the service we provide is of the highest quality and complies with the industry standards.

Barum & Dewar is delighted to congratulate our foam facility for once again retaining its BSI certification for its quality management system (ISO 9001:2015) following the annual Quality Assessment undertaken by leading global independently accredited certification body, NQA.

ISO 9001 is an International Quality Management System Standard that specifies requirements within which an organisation demonstrates its ability to consistently provide products or services to meet customer and legal requirements, enhancing customer satisfaction and opening the way to continual improvement.

The ISO accreditation brings many benefits for us as a manufacturer. As we strive to meet the requirements of the quality management system, we are identifying areas of continual improvement which enables us to stay ahead in our competitive industry. It also brings benefits for our customers who can trust that our products and processes meet the stringent quality requirements of the assessment.

David Frame, Managing Director of Barum & Dewar, said,

“With the sectors we operate in, quality must be at the core of everything we do. Our team works incredibly hard to maintain the standards of ISO 9001 and to have international recognition via the accreditation is testament to their ongoing effort and commitment to quality.”