Established in 1988, Alloy Ramps was the brainchild of inventor and entrepreneur Graham Corfield, who decided to take the plunge and branch out on his own after having worked in the manufacturing industry for some time. His vision was to supply high-quality ramps to the UK trade.
Setting up a small manufacturing plant in Wolverhampton, Graham’s vision became a reality over time, with the company enjoying growth and moving to a significantly larger site in Telford 14 years ago, where it still manufactures its range of access solutions today.
Speaking with Graham, the company’s Managing Director, he explained how the company has grown over the last 29 years.
“Our growth has been organic, which has led to gradual change and greater diversity in terms of our capability and proposition,” he explained.
“Now we supply both UK wide and overseas, however, we are immensely proud to be able to say that all of our manufacturing is still done in-house and our commitment to customer service has never been stronger.”
From its Shropshire base, Alloy Ramps manufactures a range of standard and bespoke ramps, gangways, platforms and loading systems, from basic design van ramps to container access platform ramps.
It is their folding van ramps that the company is particularly keen to inform the industry about however, asserting that manufacturers and retailers can save both money and manpower with their solutions.
“We believe our folding van ramps are the most versatile on the market and are especially suitable for the mobility industry,” commented Graham.
Hinged and stored upright, Alloy Ramps folding van ramps are designed to be easy to fold out for just one individual, making it an ideal solution for companies and their operations in the industry, according to the company.
Graham said: “Our folding van ramps require a one-person operation and are efficient in terms of both cost and time.
“Furthermore, our folding van ramps can also be detached and used away from the van – when we claim they are versatile, they really are!”
Speaking with Graham, he believes one of Alloy Ramps key strengths over its competitors is the company’s ability to customise the ramps it provides to customers to better meet their needs.
“Our products are unique to the UK, in that we both design and manufacture. We pride ourselves in offering bespoke designs, based on customer requirements, so we can manufacture these ramps to any dimensions and specifications,” highlighted Graham.
“We are not simply a stockist, so our obligation to the customer is to get them a ramp which works specifically for their operation and vehicle. We know this can be particularly important for the healthcare sector, where organisations may have very specific needs and specifications.”
Whilst the company does offer standard, off-the-shelf alternatives, it is in its ability to customise products to suit the needs of each individual user that the company sets itself apart.
It was this commitment to high-quality ramp solutions that helped the company secure a contract to manufacture and supply 103 folding van ramps for community loan store provider Medequip and their new van fleet.
“We have worked with Medequip for a number of years now and we worked in close collaboration with the Medequip team to produce a very easy-to-use, lightweight ramp that could be operated by one-person to their van fleet,” explained Graham.
“The project is a strong example of how we work with our customers generally, placing emphasis on their needs and delivering the perfect solutions to enhance real-time operations.”
Discussing the project, he commented on the importance of having an efficient operation to meet high-quantity orders.
“The challenge with high volume orders for any manufacturer is simply the question of logistics and, in particular, planning and scheduling completion dates.
“It was a pretty tight schedule, so we produced and delivered 10 ramps on a weekly basis to make sure that the vehicles went out on time and with the required delivery. It was a project we were happy to tackle head on and it is down to the efforts of our dedicated team that we managed to do it.”
According to Graham, the company has been receiving more attention from the healthcare and mobility industry, as Alloy Ramps reputation continues to grow in the market.
“We have seen a steady growth in the healthcare industry over the past three years. This has been mainly down to increased orders from our loyal customer base, word of mouth and positive reviews from our customers’ clients,” confirmed Graham.
“We have received amazing feedback regarding our products and services, which encourages the business to prioritise this sector, given the huge opportunities here for us, as well as great benefits for customers.
Graham says the key benefits for customers are the ease of use and the ability for a one-person operation, helping companies meet their KPIs, in terms of time savings and improving overall efficiencies.
“We believe that we produce outstanding products and deliver outstanding customer service, which together is the perfect combination for any customer in the industry looking for a ramp solution,” he added.
Continuing to look to the healthcare industry, Alloy Ramps has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming the ‘first choice’ provider of these kind of ramp solutions and is ramping up its activity in the market.
“As an independently owned entrepreneurial business, our mantra is to always aim high,” said Graham.
“We are investing more into the Alloy Ramps brand and business, with recent commitments to trade show activity, the launch of a new website and more media engagement with the likes of THIIS magazine.”
The ramp specialists are also keen to build and nurture solid relationships with customers, new and old, in order to strengthen retention levels.
“We believe in our products, given their track record and reputation, and as we manage the whole process in-house, we have great faith in our team. We have all the facets required to position Alloy Ramps as the ‘first choice’ provider for all ramp solutions within the healthcare sector,” finished Graham.
“We are all very excited for what the future holds.”
Stafford Park 15, Telford, Shropshire, UK TF3 3BB
