Think back to when Manchester United secured the treble, The Matrix redefined cinema and the Millenium Dome was London’s latest architectural icon. Around that time, Billington Structures Ltd and Ficep UK began a partnership that has stood the test of time. Over 25 years later, this collaboration – based on shared goals and trust – has helped Billington, a major UK structural steel fabricator, improve its operations and remain at the forefront of its industry.

The introduction of Ficep Gemini machines marked a key step in the partnership. These machines allowed Billington to handle multiple tasks, such as chamfering, drilling and plasma cutting – on a single platform.

Billington also turned to Ficep for its laser processing technology. The company purchased a Ficep Cutlite machine, capable of cutting material up to 50 mm thick. After seeing the machine in action at Ficep’s UK open house and later visiting the factory in Italy, Billington was convinced of its capabilities.

Kevin Campbell, managing director of Billington Structures, says: “The thing that impressed us most was its ability to process material up to 50 mm thick. Since its installation, we’ve found the productivity much better than we expected, while the quality of parts is second to none.”

Ficep provides ongoing support, including maintenance contracts and complementary solutions like its vending machine for consumables.

Says Campbell: “The Billington/Ficep partnership over the past 25-30 years has seen us grow as a business, offer more products, and maintain our competitiveness and productivity. And part of the reason for that is the support we’ve had from Ficep.”

More information www.ficep.co.uk