Bridgewood UK achieves Highest Level Service award from Global Giant Caterpillar

Bridgewood (UK) Ltd, East Yorkshire based Vacuum Formed Thermoplastics experts achieve the highest possible (Platinum) level supplier performance award from Global giant Caterpillar.

The accreditation (CAT SQEP or Supplier Quality Excellence Program – awards from Bronze, through Silver, Gold & Platinum levels) which has only ever been achieved by a select group of Caterpillars global supply base, focuses on sustained Delivery and Quality performance metrics. Having been awarded Bronze and Silver over the past few years Bridgewood who manufacturer thermoplastic exterior body panels for CAT have now attained Platinum based on their 2020 supplier performance, the only Plastics supplier world-wide to do so.

To make the step up to Platinum Bridgewood implemented a strategic team to focus on key metrics through early warning of potential upcoming events thus enabling advanced planning. In addition, great emphasis was placed on new product introduction processes, an area where many suppliers encounter issues through product unfamiliarity.

In a statement from Caterpillar, their Global Category Purchasing Manager said
“I would like to thank Bridgewood for the excellent partnership with Caterpillar over the years, and to congratulate them for the tremendous SQEP recertification achieved at Platinum level. The key results achieved in Quality and Delivery performance into our facilities are commendable and it is partners such as Bridgewood that facilitate the excellent quality product that our customers enjoy and need to build a better world”.

Bridlewood’s Financial Director Nabiel Khan stated, “As a business the Caterpillar SQEP Platinum award has to be up there as one of our ultimate achievements. The team at Bridgewood have worked extremely hard in delivering sustained excellence. To deliver this performance in 2020 against the backdrop of a global pandemic is a fantastic achievement”.

Looking to the future Bridgewood are continuing to drive the business forward with a new £1m capital investment programme in new thermoforming machinery and allied equipment that will create new jobs in the current financial year. Bridlewood’s Financial Director stated, “I am pleased to announce that this project has been supported with a grant from the HEY LEP’s Growing Hull & East Yorkshire grant scheme. Growing Hull and East Yorkshire is funded by the LEP’s Getting Building Fund programme, secured as part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.

Bridgewood (UK) Limited
Bridge Works, Hessle
HU13 OTP
01482 646464
news@bridgewooduk.com
Press contact - Andrew Breeze
Email - news@bridgewooduk.com

Bridgewood UK is based close to the Humber Bridge in Hessle, near Hull, and is one of the UK's leading producers of Vacuum formed thermoplastic components.

Operating from this site for over 30 years, Bridgewood offers a capability and know-how unrivalled in the thermoforming industry. Its modern, 100,000 square foot facility houses a range of modern vacuum forming & five-axis CNC trimming machinery along with SRIM Glass reinforced PU moulding and PU reinforcement facilities.

www.bridgewooduk.com

For more information, call Andrew Breeze (Sales Manager) on +44 (0) 7929 106236 or email at andrew.breeze@bridgewooduk.com.

About the SQEP Award:

Caterpillar’s SQEP accreditation plays an integral role in driving an on time, zero defect mentality into its supply chain management. CAT wants to recognise those suppliers who are utilising systems and processes that produce results that meet or exceed its expectations.

The Caterpillar Supplier Quality Excellence Process provides the means for recognising supplier quality excellence, while clearly communicating CAT’s expectations for a world-class supply base. This process combines industry-proven quality system and process management requirements from ISO/TS 16949:2002 with demonstrated results to ensure expected supplier capacity and performance.

Recognition levels of Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum - reflected in order of increasing difficulty - distinguish outstanding supplier quality performance.

About the Getting Building Fund:

On 4 August 2020, the government confirmed the list of over 300 successful projects which will receive a share of £900 million from the Getting Building Fund.

The full list of projects is available on GOV.UK.

The Getting Building Fund is investing in shovel-ready infrastructure projects to create jobs and support economic recovery across the country. Projects funded include:

• regeneration of town and city centres
• green infrastructure and clean energy
• transport and digital connectivity improvements
• unlocking of housing and business sites
• support for SMEs and learners

The successful projects (over 300) are expected to deliver up to 85,000 jobs, over 1,500,000 sqm of commercial floor space, unlocking 45,000 homes, almost 1,000,000 sqm of public realm or green space improved or created, over 50,000 new learners assisted, and 65 million kgs of CO2 emissions saved.

All projects have been selected by Local Enterprise Partnerships and Mayoral Combined Authorities in each area and endorsed by the Housing Secretary.

About the Northern Powerhouse:

Some Northern Powerhouse key facts:
• The Northern Powerhouse is a key aspect of this Government’s approach to addressing the productivity gap in the North and ensuring a stronger, more sustainable economy for all parts of the UK.
• The government has awarded £3.4bn in three rounds of Growth Deals across the Northern Powerhouse.

This release was published on openPR.