Meet our Operations Manager Russ Forbes

Here at Excelsior, we offer our customers a comprehensive roto moulding service, taking an idea and guiding it neatly from rough concept to completed creation. Meet our Operations Manager Russ Forbes, taking us through the design process and his time at Excelsior.

Russ, please tell us a bit about yourself and your role?

I’ve worked for Excelsior for almost 13 years now as Production and then Operations Manager, having previously spent the rest of my career in management positions in various other manufacturing industries.
At Excelsior, I oversee all aspects of the manufacturing process working alongside a great team of departmental supervisors. I also work closely with our MD Giles, to ensure our contract moulding customers get the best service possible.
As roto moulding specialists, we understand what our customers are looking for when they come to us for bespoke plastic products. We use CAD (Computer Aided Design) to help us achieve the best results for you every time.

Why is the design stage such a critical step in the rotational moulding process from your perspective as the Operations Manager?

The design of a product is critical, a poorly designed product will cause no end of issues from tooling to production to quality, therefore it is vital we sit down with the customer and utilise the experience of everyone in the team to help them come up with a product that fits their needs.
Our Group CAD design service, along with our experience enables us to predict how a product will perform under certain conditions, we can then help customers with their product design ensuring it’s a perfect match for its intended application.

Russ, what sets Excelsior aside from other rotational moulders?

I’ve worked for large companies and other privately owned SME’s. The main reason I love working here is Giles and Jonny’s attitudes to how they treat their employees and their customers which matches my own views and beliefs in those key areas.
Customer service is vital to building strong working relationships, this means communicating with honesty, always being available when things don’t go to plan and going that extra mile to ensure our customers get the service they deserve.
Excelsior are experts in plastic products – we’re roto moulding specialists and there’s not much we haven’t seen over the years. We’ve helped to design and manufacture products large and small, so it’s safe to say that – whatever you need help with – we’re a good bet.

Russ as the Operations Manager, what are the benefits of CAD?

Enhanced Precision and Accuracy:

CAD software enables precise drawings and designs, reducing errors from manual drafting.
Measurements, angles, and proportions can be easily controlled and verified, ensuring that designs meet specific requirements.

Increased Productivity and Efficiency:

CAD software streamlines the design process, allowing designers to create and modify designs faster than with traditional methods.
Automated tasks and features reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks, freeing up designers to focus on more complex aspects of the design process.
Designs can be easily edited and modified, saving time and effort when making revisions.

Improved Collaboration and Communication:

CAD software facilitates better collaboration between team members, as designs can be shared and viewed simultaneously.
Version control features ensure that everyone is working with the most up-to-date version of a design.
Clear and detailed CAD drawings improve communication and reduce misunderstandings among team members.

Enhanced Visualisation and Simulation:

CAD software allows for the creation of 3D models and simulations, providing a more realistic and detailed representation of designs.
These visualisations help designers assess the functionality and aesthetics of a design before it’s even built.
Simulation tools can help identify potential problems early in the design process, saving time and money.
Reduced Errors and Improved Quality:
CAD software minimises the risk of errors by providing tools for easy referencing and error prediction.
Designs can be checked for accuracy and completeness before they are finalised, reducing the likelihood of costly mistakes.
The ability to quickly identify and correct errors leads to higher quality designs.

Cost Savings:

By reducing errors and rework, CAD software can help to lower production costs.
Faster design processes and increased efficiency can also lead to significant cost savings.
Simulation tools can help reduce the need for physical prototypes, further reducing costs.

How do you help the customers throughout the design process at Excelsior?

With years of experience and a large team of knowledgeable staff on hand, we can offer our customers a comprehensive service that begins with CAD design technology and finishes with plastic products that exceed their expectations.

Plastic products vary hugely in complexity, and our CAD and product design processes alongside sister company Crossfield Excalibur aims to help our customers create products which look and perform exactly as they should. No matter how complicated a design is, our contract roto moulding team can help!