Manufacturing Magazine August 2018 | Page 22

Q : HOW HAS STAR RAPID GROWN INTO A WORLD LEADING MANUFACTURER ?
MANUFACTURING 4.0
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A western manufacturer based in China , Star Rapid has reaped the rewards of supporting gender diversity in a traditionally maledominated sector . Along with the rapid growth of 3D printing , a commitment to research and development , and the increasing quality of goods coming from China , is helping the business grow into an industry leader . Founder and President , Gordon Styles , and Chloe Kow , Manager of DMLM ( Direct Metal Laser Melting ) told us more …

Q : HOW HAS STAR RAPID GROWN INTO A WORLD LEADING MANUFACTURER ?
Styles : “ Star Rapid was founded in 2005 when I made the decision to travel to China to set up a manufacturing company . I knew I would face challenges building a business in a new country like China and had a lot to learn . While China had a reputation for bad quality , miscommunication and late deliveries , I saw an opportunity to provide a new experience for those who wished to manufacture their products in China and benefit from its incredibly low manufacturing costs .
“ My goal was to run a westernstyle manufacturing company in China , adhering to the strictest European standards for compliance and quality while maintaining exceptional service for customers by being highly efficient . I set out to build a new type of manufacturing company in China and hired foreign engineers to come and teach our Chinese employees how to make high-quality parts .
“ I made it my personal mission to hire Chinese graduates and personally train them from the ground up on the right way to manufacture . Today , we have an international team of more than 280 employees supporting customers throughout the entire manufacturing process to ensure a streamlined customer journey . We have made a significant investment of $ 4.5mn into cutting-edge equipment , including plastic injection moulding machines , Computer Numerical Control ( CNC ) machining centres , Electrical Discharge Machining
AUGUST 2018