Bob Bunting Visits European Bunting Operations

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, no one could have predicted how long it would last. Now that the pandemic has begun to abate, many aspects of business are finally returning to normal, including travel. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, Bunting’s President and CEO, Bob Bunting, was able to travel to the United Kingdom to take a tour of Bunting’s European operations facilities.

Visiting Bunting-Berkhamsted

The Bunting Group has expanded considerably since 2017, with several company acquisitions as well as numerous investments and expansions in manufacturing facilities. During Bob Bunting’s February and March 2022 UK tour, he visited all three of Bunting’s European manufacturing sites. His tour began at Bunting-Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, which was Bunting’s first operation in Europe. At Bunting-Berkhamsted, operations focus on the supply and design of magnets, magnetic assemblies, and magnetizing equipment.

There have been several recent investments in Bunting-Berkhamsted, including significantly extending the magnet testing and development center. The manufacturing area at Bunting-Berkhamsted was also reorganized to accommodate record growth in orders for magnetic assemblies and industrial magnetizers.

Visiting Bunting-Redditch

At the Bunting-Redditch facility, Bob Bunting was particularly excited to see the expansion and renovation work that had been completed on the building in July 2021. Bunting-Redditch was acquired in 2017, and this renovation expanded both manufacturing and office space at the site by more than 50%. These investments have allowed Bunting-Redditch to meet rapidly growing demand for magnetic separation equipment, particularly Eddy Current Separators and Overband Magnets, for which orders grew substantially during 2021.

A major highlight of Bob Bunting’s tour was being able to see Bunting-Redditch’s remodeled state-of-the-art Customer Experience Center, which includes an extensive range of laboratory-scale and product-sized test equipment. When the decision was made to launch the renovations and expansions at Bunting-Redditch, the testing facility was assigned a high priority. Now, the testing facility is fully modernized and provides an ideal location for controlled and extensive material testing. The updated Customer Experience Center serves as the perfect platform for visits from company representatives to test samples and assess separation capabilities.

Recent Company Acquisitions

The Bunting Group continues to expand its European operations, most recently with the acquisition of MagDev and Pilamec. By adding MagDev to Bunting’s portfolio, the company is now able to offer an expanded range of specialist custom and industrial magnets, as well as soft magnetic solutions in various shapes, sizes, and grades. Housed under the Bunting-Berkhamsted umbrella, the group is able to provide an extensive and unrivalled range of magnets and magnetic materials.

By acquiring Pilamec, Bunting has further extended its range of manufacturing capabilities. Rob Absalom, Pilamec’s Operations Manager, gave Bob Bunting a tour around the Lydney facility. At Pilamec, manufacturing specialties include providing air classification, batch dry milling, screening, and blending of organic and inorganic minerals for companies in industries including recycling, refractories, mining, and ceramics. Here, many different materials are handled, ranging from metal powder to non-toxic chemical milling. Originally acquired by MagDev as a key raw material supplier for soft magnetics, Pilamec provides Bunting with an opportunity to diversify into new areas of manufacturing.

Success Fuels Success

The Bunting Group’s growth in Europe continues to be fueled by continued improvement, new product development, and manufacturing investment.

“This is an exciting time for the Bunting Group,” said Bob Bunting. “Our strategic acquisitions strengthen our position as a global leader in the supply of magnetic products and equipment.”

To learn more about the many products and services we offer on a global scale, contact Bunting today.