Muller South Wales gets to grips with Dragons’ Den innovation

The heavy duty plasterboard fixing utilises a three-way gripping system that includes a universal collar, anti-rotational lugs and unique backing wings to offer a heavy-duty solution to a problem that has plagued builders and home improvement enthusiasts for years.

Demand for the product - designed by young entrepreneur Jordan Daykin and his Grandad Stan - has been phenomenal with major UK retailers B&Q, Screwfix and Wickes all stocking it on their shelves and orders coming in from Europe, the US and Australia.

They were in the market for a manufacturer of grooved pins and our materials supplier who recommended us," explained Stephen Lock, Managing Director of Muller South Wales.

We have more than 90 years experience across the company and were able to understand the design and how this discipline of manufacturing could be used to produce the groove shafts that turn the screwdriver.

The key was to come up with a high volume production process that could deliver repeatable quality and precision, something we have achieved by investing £25,000 into new attachments onto the existing Escomatic machines."

He continued: "We've produced about £250,000 of components this year and - with volumes anticipated to double in 2017 - this project will be responsible for safeguarding and creating more than 10 jobs."

Muller South Wales is part of Muller Holdings, one of the largest privately owned sub-contract machinists in Europe providing precision components to customers involved in automotive, defence, hydraulics, gas, medical, electrical and dental.

The group employs 140 people across its sites in Llandovery, Cleobury Mortimer, Redditch and Wednesbury and boasts a combined turnover of £12m in the UK, with a low cost facility in place in India.