Aerospace Metal Finishers Northern Ireland (AMFNI) is a specialist surface treatment and finishing company serving the dynamic aerospace sector worldwide. Established in 2002 as part of the prestigious Dontaur Group, AMFNI was created specifically to meet the needs for a high-quality metal finishing facility offering customers quick, reliable turnaround times with consistent quality standards.
Operating from Ballymena, Northern Ireland, AMFNI provides critical finishing services that must meet the stringent quality standards and regulatory requirements of aerospace manufacturing.
AMFNI operates multiple spray booths and employs a handpicked team of skilled painters who are fully trained and certificated to the highest standards in the metal finishing business. These specialists apply aerospace-grade coating systems while maintaining AMFNI's mission to provide a consistent, fast, reliable service supplying quality finished products that satisfy customer needs and meet specification requirements. AMFNI's operations require consistent access to high-specification consumables, from specialist filters and PPE to precision abrasives and masking materials.
Ultrimax Ireland stepped in three months ago to transform AMFNI's procurement process through a comprehensive digital solution. By implementing a bespoke online portal with real-time inventory management and competitive pricing structures. The partnership has delivered immediate improvements in operational efficiency, supply chain reliability, and cost management, whilst ensuring continuous availability of critical aerospace-grade consumables from Ultrimax's Northern Ireland warehouse facility in Antrim.
"Working with AMFNI has been a perfect demonstration of how our digital portal solutions can transform procurement for the aerospace sector," says Bruce Hoare, Head of Commercial at Ultrimax. "Their challenge was one we see across many Irish manufacturers - valuable time being wasted on administrative processes rather than focusing on core operations.”
The Problem: Complacent Suppliers Costing Valuable Time and Money
Aerospace Metal Finishers Northern Ireland (AMFNI) faced significant operational inefficiencies in their paint shop:
- Time-Consuming Procurement Processes: AMFNI staff were spending large amounts of valuable time chasing deliveries, checking prices, and managing orders manually. This administrative burden was detracting from operational activities.
- Lack of Pricing Transparency: Without clear visibility of pricing structures, AMFNI struggled to control costs and make informed procurement decisions.
- Reactive Supply Management: The existing system was purely reactive, with no proactive inventory management or automated reordering capabilities, leading to potential stockouts and operational disruptions.
- Multiple Supplier Complexity: Managing relationships with various suppliers for different consumables created additional complexity and coordination challenges.
The Ultrimax Ireland Solution: Bespoke Digital Portal with Local Expertise
Ultrimax Ireland provided a comprehensive digital transformation of AMFNI's consumables procurement:
- Local Industry Expertise: Ultrimax Ireland's extensive experience in aerospace consumables across and UK and Ireland enabled them to understand the highly specified paint systems and demanding quality requirements of AMFNI's operations.
- Irish Location: With consumables used on a daily basis, our Antrim facility in Northern Ireland, could provide immediate access to spray booth filters, specialist PPE, paint preparation materials, abrasives, and masking consumables.
- Bespoke Digital Portal: Implementation of a custom online portal tailored specifically to AMFNI's requirements, featuring personalised pricing structures and favourite product selections.
Throughout implementation, Ultrimax maintained close collaboration with AMFNI's procurement and operations teams, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing activities whilst maximising the benefits of the new system.
"Working with Ultrimax has been very straightforward and it is a credit to their understanding of customer needs; the online ordering platform makes the purchasing process very simple and user friendly. I would highly recommend Ultrimax." Roger Smyth, Operations Manager at Aerospace Metal Finishers.
Ready to Transform Your Paint Shop Procurement? Get Started with Ultrimax Today
Aerospace Metal Finishers' partnership with Ultrimax showcases the benefits of streamlined, reliable, and locally supported consumables procurement. By leveraging Ultrimax’s tailored digital solutions, AMFNI has been able to refocus resources on its core business and reduce procurement friction. Click here to apply for an Ultrimax Trade Account and unlock faster, smarter procurement with Ultrimax or, contact us today.