South East Asia

Took some time out to visit the three huge Thailand Triumph factories just outside of Bangkok. Amazing to see where the majority of bikes are built along with manufacturing of key motorcycle components, little of which now unfortunately remains in the UK.

The three factories are mainly split by manufacture (injection moulding, casting, pressing, bending etc.), fabrication (main chassis) and assembly lines. Not only are the factories massive but the scale of some of the machinery is too. Crankcases and cylinder heads are cast into steel tools weighing 8 tonnes (approx. £1m each) where each tool is loaded into machines the size of small office blocks all to produce a component that can be held with two hands.

Just before flying out I finished a small project that should have started manufacture about now. I explained this to an old colleague I used to work with who was kind enough to walk us around and funnily enough soon into the tour we actually saw the part being made (which is great as all must be going to plan!). A really good feeling seeing a part I was directly involved with (a set of stainless steel fuel tank protection crash bars) actually being manufactured by a small team of guys in a little production run. Also great to see the part on a checking fixture so I thought I’d go and have a look. I spotted the part wasn’t quite manufactured correctly to the engineering drawing requirement in one area but then spotted NG (no good) stamped into the side. This confirms the part isn't quite correct and that it has been rejected effectively - good to see high standards of quality control first hand. I had to resist the urge to chat to the production guys explaining we designed the part they were actually making so instead we walked past like any other tourist of which they never knew. I could talk all day about the experience but I’ll save that for another time. In short it was amazing to see and I’m so glad I went. Bonus that Jess enjoyed it too.Okumaya devam et