South African manufacturer and distributor Stage Audio Works (SAW) has announced a series of major investments in the manufacturing capabilities at its headquarters in Johannesburg.
The company has expanded its in-house production capacity through investment in several new pieces of machinery, including a direct-to-material printer, a new CNC machine, an aluminium extrusion rolling machine and a dedicated embroidery machine. These developments consolidate more processes under one roof, enhancing quality control, speeding up production times and encouraging creative flexibility.
‘The recent purchase of a direct-to-material printer is the latest in a line of several investments to improve our manufacturing operations,’ says Stage Audio Works COO, Gustav Barnard. ‘Together, these upgrades strengthen our in-house manufacturing capabilities for our group brands, including Stage Plus, Pixel Plus and Plus Audio, allowing us to deliver products more quickly in response to customer demands.’
Where previously outsourced screen printing required a several-day turnaround, the new direct-to-object printer allows designs to be reproduced in minutes. ‘This printer gives us the ability to produce custom branding and identification solutions almost instantly,’ says Service Manager, Nils Perreira. ‘It’s a huge leap forward in terms of speed, flexibility and creative capability.’
The purchase of a new CNC machine further strengthens SAW’s in-house production capabilities. ‘Our CNC upgrade unlocks many new opportunities,’ says Stage Plus Factory Manager, Arnold Serumula. ‘It allows us to achieve exceptional consistency and quality in the products we are producing, whilst improving production workflows, in turn, delivering our customers better products, faster.’
New aluminium extrusion rolling capabilities mean that group brands such as Stage Plus no longer need to rely on outsourced parts to produce their diverse range of trussing and stage deck solutions. ‘Rolling has always been outsourced, but with our machine, we now have full control and creativity in-house,’ Serumula says. ‘This not only speeds up production but also lets us expand our Stage Plus range with new shapes and custom solutions.’
A new embroidery machine, meanwhile, enables tighter control over quality assurance and faster production timelines, further strengthening Stage Audio Works’ commitment to investing in its own capabilities to increase customer satisfaction.
‘We’re now equipped to handle very large international orders and support our clients and partners across more projects without relying on third-party suppliers,’ Barnard summarises. ‘As we expand our manufacturing facility, we’re also growing opportunities and developing specialised manufacturing skills within the local community. We’re proud to celebrate our 25th year with these milestones and look forward to what the next chapter brings.’
More: www.stageaudioworks.com