Quickslide Pushes Forward with Second Phase of £3 Million Manufacturing Upgrade

Quickslide (https://www.quickslide.co.uk/) has taken another major step in its transformation journey, unveiling the second phase of its ambitious £3 million investment into factory automation. The highlight? A groundbreaking mech-weld system engineered to slash the manufacturing time of mechanical sash windows from around 15 minutes down to an astonishing 90 seconds. Not only does this system significantly increase production speed, it also ensures impeccable consistency - solving a long-standing challenge in the mechanical joinery process. By removing the risk of human error, Quickslide can now supply its Legacy Vertical Slider with authentic mechanical joints at industry-leading lead times.

This latest development is the result of three years of research, planning, and refinement. The new installation consists of three bespoke machines, each one uniquely configured, custom-built, and never before seen in the UK. Together, they deliver unparalleled efficiency, ensuring Legacy VS sash windows reach Quickslide's trade network faster than ever - with dependable, repeatable precision and no bottlenecks in capacity.

Reflecting on the journey so far, managing director Ben Weber explained:

"The automation of window manufacturing can learn a lot from other sectors - which is why we looked outside the industry for inspiration. This allowed us to set a high bar for commissioning a suite of machines designed to automate a notoriously labour-intensive process," said Quickslide's managing director Ben Weber.

"Push-button automation is crucial for repeatable, reliable results, and the £1 million we have invested in mechanical jointing is part of an overall £3 million strategy across all manual processes in our factory. Critically, we're only just getting started."

This move follows a significant milestone 18 months earlier when the company installed a £1.7 million Schirmer machining centre, which enabled full automation of milling processes and integrated automatic reinforcing across the Legacy VS range.

Looking ahead, Ben Weber added:

"If we can deliver a specialised product such as our Legacy VS in as little as five days, with guaranteed quality and competitive pricing, we know future scaling investments will take Quickslide, and its trade partners, way beyond the constraints of what the industry currently offers."

"Without giving too much away, we are now exploring AI-driven robotic functions and reconfiguring production layouts from cellular to line-fed systems."

The wider vision underpinning all investment decisions centres on automation, consistent quality, and smarter use of materials.

The impact is already clear. Processes that once required numerous operators now need only one specialist overseeing two machines. What previously took 15 minutes now completes in 90 seconds. Crucially, this isn't about reducing staff - it's about making better use of skilled people as production increases.

As Ben Weber explains:

"What used to take 15 people carrying out various functions now takes just one person feeding two machines. What used to be a 15-minute process now takes just 90 seconds. As the business scales, we can redeploy that labour across other areas, using their skills and knowledge in more valuable ways - investing and automating is never about cutting back, but maximising current resources for greater returns.

"Skills shortages are a problem in this industry. Our intention is to protect those who currently work with Quickslide. At the same time, automation better protects Quickslide against a lack of skills coming into the marketplace."

Quickslide's approach is about more than simply keeping pace with the industry - it's about redefining what's possible. Rather than measuring success against other window manufacturers, the company pushes itself to meet world-class manufacturing benchmarks and takes its trade partners along on that journey.

Ultimately, the goal remains clear: deliver quality products, on time, at the right price.

As Ben Weber summarised:

"That means achieving fundamental market-focused guarantees such as product quality, delivered on time, at the right price. It's not rocket science, but it is foundational. This latest installation puts us well on the road to achieving it, but there is still more work to be done!"

Quick slide
Heaton Estate, Bradford Rd, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse HD6 4BW

Quickslide are leading manufacturers and suppliers of windows, doors and double glazing, situated in Brighouse, West Yorkshire. Our Legacy uPVC sliding sash windows combine modern efficiency with timeless style. Our colour bonding service lets us make sash windows in almost any colour, including dual colourways.

This release was published on openPR.