Tata Steel pick up JCB award

Company receive Supplier Performance Award at JCB conference

Confirming their position as one of the leading suppliers to the off-road construction equipment industry, Tata Steel have received a Supplier Performance Award 2012 at JCB’s Supplier Conference in Rocester, UK.

The annual conference was attended by over 240 of JCB’s key suppliers and recognized those that particularly excelled during the year. Of the nine companies shortlisted, Tata Steel were one of just three to receive the accolade at the event.

Presenting the award was JCB's chairman Sir Anthony Bamford and JCB's CEO Alan Blake, with Koen ten Broek, Tata Steel’s global account manager JCB, and Gareth Beese, Tata Steel’s sales and marketing director, lifting & excavating, on hand to accept.

Speaking at the event, Koen ten Broek said: ‘This is fantastic recognition of all the hard work that Tata Steel and JCB continue to invest in establishing a strong partnership together.’

The Supplier Performance Awards assess five key areas of business, including quality, cost, innovation, delivery and management. The lifting & excavating team within Tata Steel has consistently delivered over the last 12 months, focusing on a number of critical initiatives and projects.

Tata Steel supply a competitive product in a wide variety of sizes, grades and conditions as required by JCB, and their quality allows JCB’s laser cutting to operate at high speed and efficiency. Tata Steel and JCB are also working together on new product designs that incorporate high-strength steels, and are experimenting with alternative welding techniques for major fabrications.

‘JCB rightly demand world-class service from their suppliers and Tata Steel have responded,’ explained Gareth Beese. ‘With a global account manager, regardless of product or location, we’re closely aligned to JCB’s business and deliver materials and services tailored to their needs. We’re no longer a commodity supplier.’

Koen ten Broek said: ‘The fact that Tata Steel have been acknowledged is due, in no small degree, to JCB's recognition of the importance of suppliers. This is confirmation that Tata Steel are on the right track and the challenge now is to develop the partnership even more successfully.’