Leading hardware manufacturer and supplier DGS Group Plc and fastener specialist Rapierstar have combined their distribution expertise to provide real supply chain depth, helping window and door fabricators maintain production as Brexit trade deal uncertainty looms.
DGS can provide supply assurances thanks to a long-term strategy of building deep stocks of up to six months for all their window and door hardware, including all the essential fasteners from supply chain partner Rapierstar. The two companies have worked closely together to ensure fastener availability matches all hardware components, including DGS Elite, their exclusive European window and door hardware and their own UK-made friction stay range.
A privately-owned manufacturer and distributor employing more than 200 people, the DGS business has been built for over 40 years on excellent products and availability. Their logistics centres around 120,000 sq. ft. warehousing across the UK and Ireland and the DGS fleet of over 40 delivery vehicles.
Rapierstar fasteners have been a key part of DGS’s ‘full system’ solution for window and door hardware for several years now. They too have a strong track record in delivery reliability and a massive stock of fasteners held at their own Cheshire bonded warehouse; more than one billion screws in stock at any one time!
The synergies between the two businesses may well prove extremely valuable to customers during the period of Brexit uncertainty, according to David Aucott, MD and owner of DGS.
“With our on-time customer deliveries figure currently at 98.8%, our approach is definitely benefiting customers, but more importantly it means that we are in great shape to weather any Brexit storm,” says David. “No fabricator wants the headache of stock shortages caused by pallets being delayed at Dover or elsewhere, or because there are simply not enough delivery drivers available at the moment, now that many are returning to their native countries.
“The good news for our customers is that DGS is set up to cope well with events on the horizon as we have all the components in stock for the full hardware system needed on all types of profile and we can deliver to their door with our own fleet of vehicles and drivers. Rapierstar plays a crucial role here too, ensuring that it is not a lack of fasteners that brings our customers’ production lines to a halt!”
As the UK’s largest supplier of fixings and fasteners to the fenestration sector, Rapierstar enables fabricators to maintain high volumes of production and deliver consistently high quality finished windows and doors. Its expertise in new product development, sourcing, international trade, logistics and distribution ensures it can offer excellent reliability as a supply chain partner, with its current on time in full performance standing at 99.5%.
Find out more about Rapierstar at www.rapierstar.com.
Find out more about DGS Group Plc at www.dgsgroup.co.uk.
