Welding a 35+ year partnership through trust and service
When Will Bridgman at Warren faced the challenge of setting up a new welding bay in an area with no fixed extraction, he turned to Miganglia for advice. The result was an ‘on torch’ extraction system that combines Fronius and Nederman equipment to create the first unit of its kind in the UK. We asked Will to tell us how Warren’s 35+ year relationship with Miganglia helped unlock this innovation.
“Our relationship relies on three things,” says Will, “trust, service and the people you deal with every day. Welding is core to Warren’s subcontracting offer and our largest department with 20 qualified welders, most of them ‘coded’ (independently tested and verified). It’s critical that our customers can trust we are using excellent, well maintained welding equipment for the high-grade work we do.”
However, Will stresses, “you’re not just buying machines, you’re also buying into an unbelievable level of ongoing service – a complete package. As such, when we face any major welding challenges, we just call MIG Anglia and ask how we can solve it, what new kit we need, and where we can get it. We simply would not think about asking or going to anyone else, the relationship is that strong.”
Innovation built on knowledge and experience
That level of ongoing service is how the ‘on torch’ extraction system came about.
Warren needed a new welding bay for a particularly large welding job where a normal extraction hood wouldn’t work. Will and Miganglia’s MD, Ben Chapman, had recently visited Austria to see Fronius demonstrate some new equipment, including a smaller welding torch. Ben had also recently seen a new smaller extractor unit from Nederman, the ‘Fume Eliminator GoMax’.
“When I put our challenge to him, Ben immediately saw how his team could make these two new pieces of equipment work together safely and effectively as a complete system. We are now testing the setup, which is the first in the UK to use the GoMax.”
You can watch a video of the GoMax in action at Warren, here.
Will also likes the fact that Miganglia only stocks one leading brand for each product line: Fronius for welding, Nederman for extraction, Hypertherm for plasma cutting and so on. “This means they have a great relationship with all their suppliers, and we benefit from that expertise too,” says Will. “At the same time, those deep relationships reassure us that they will be around for the long term.”
Dependability is key to a strong manufacturing brand
Based in Thetford, Warren is a successful and respected subcontract manufacturing business. They have also been a Miganglia customer since Will’s father, Richard Bridgman, OBE, founded Warren 36 years ago. In fact, as Will explains, the business relationship between Richard and Miganglia’s founder, Harry Chapman, goes back more than 36 years.
“My father was managing another manufacturing business when he first worked with Harry and had no hesitation in choosing Miganglia when setting up Warren. They are now our longest serving supplier and a key part of our growth story. Their support has helped us build our reputation with Tier 1 contractors for reliability and high-quality manufacturing that brings their product designs to life.
“You can see that level of support in the Fronius welding equipment that we bought from them 20 years ago. This is still operational because Miganglia has diligently looked after it every year. On top of that, they always bring us a spare Fronius welding plant when they need to take ours away for servicing and calibration, so there’s no down time for us and no logjams.”
“If I have any challenge to do with welding, I just call up Miganglia.”- Will Bridgman, Managing Director at Warren.
Another benefit for Will of having a strong, long-term partnership with Miganglia is that it brings peace of mind when investing in the latest technology. “The old equipment still works well but we like to be on the front foot, looking at how new tools can open up fresh opportunities for us. When buying such expensive kit, it’s vital to know that if anything goes wrong (which is rare) they will fix it quickly.
“It’s also reassuring to know they’ll never try to sell you anything. Instead, Ben and his team just focus on providing excellent service, real attention to detail and solving problems first. That’s a true partnership and a level of service you rarely get. They look after us and, because we feel valued, we continue to trust them for essential high-quality equipment, such as 3M air-fed helmets, as well as all the associated consumables, such as INE welding wire.”
Growing businesses and people together
Interestingly, Warren started out as a machining business, with just one welder. However, as Will explains, partnering with Miganglia enabled them to grow the welding side of the business.
“For a start, having the best equipment helps you recruit the best people who appreciate using it. Then Miganglia helps train our welders on any new equipment, which ensures the team gets the best out of it. They will even come in to show new recruits how the existing equipment works, which really helps us bring people up to speed quickly and get the best from them.”
One of those people is Kieran Stewart, who started as an apprentice at Warren 15 years ago. He has since worked his way up, first to Welding Manager and now Production Manager. Over the years he has mainly dealt with James Batchelor, who is now General Manager at Miganglia.
“When I started welding, James was a service engineer,” says Kieran. “Since then, we have both climbed the career ladder, working with each other in various roles along the way. As a result, there are now really good relationships between the two companies at all levels.
“Our welders like talking to the Miganglia representatives who service the equipment because they are always good to work with. They are helpful and responsive, always willing to answer questions, and you know they will always do their best for you. On top of that, you know the equipment they supply is the best, from welding to plasma cutters to induction heaters – you get what you pay for.”
Shared values and commitment to the future
Warren has an award-winning reputation for its commitment to apprenticeships and in-work training, that goes back to when the company started. Miganglia has a similar ethos, which Will appreciates. “Their commitment to bringing on the next generation of welders is as strong as ours,” he says.
“For instance, they organise events at East Coast College to bring manufacturers up to speed with new welding technology. Like us, they also work closely with colleges and apprenticeship providers, such as REAGIT, to develop the workforce that’s vital to our industry’s future. That includes supporting the Open Road training centre in Thetford, which offers alternative provision for 14-16-year-olds.”
Naturally, Will is not only happy to recommend Miganglia to others but actively does. As he concludes “They are always solid and reliable. If you use them, you know it will just work.”
Thank you to Will and Kieran for taking the time to contribute your thoughts to this article.
If you have read this and would like to find out how Miganglia can support your manufacturing business, please contact us here.
