20 Years with Yamato
Three of Yamato Scale Dataweigh UK’s employees have recently been awarded the ‘Long Service Award’, having each been with Yamato for 20 years.
Ian Aitchison, Julie Marshall and Steve Spencer were each given the ward as a result of their long service, with each telling us a bit about their experiences at Yamato.
Yamato Scale Dataweigh UK, a leading manufacturer of packaging and weighing machinery, has been operating within the UK June, 1994.
Ian Aitchison, Yamato’s technical applications manager, is one of the long-time employees. Speaking of the highlights of his time at the company, he said “seeing a small company (originally 4 people) grow into a much bigger business that trades throughout the world, and meeting with a wide range of people from different cultures and backgrounds has definitely been an experience.”
Steve Spencer, sales manager at Yamato, agreed: “the company has grown each year, with new additional staff to help grow the solution side of the business, and the sales (plus aftersales) side of the company. However, the original nuclei of people are a strong and determined team who are as dedicated now as they were when the first foundations were set!”
Having grown from a small team to the current staff count of 26 has meant changes for the Yamato team.
“Back in the early days I was involved in the recruitment of a number of new members of staff, some of whom are still here today and I have built up a close working relationship with them over the years” said Yamato’s financial controller, Julie Marshall.
As the company has grown from a close-knit group to a larger commercial force, it hasn’t forgotten its roots.
“When I joined I was employee no. 7, and it really felt like a ‘family’ back then. We’ve managed to keep the ethos, but not quite to the same extent as we grow,” said Marshall, “I’m responsible for the overseeing of day-to-day account department functions and preparation of management accounts, among other things. I’m also responsible for the maintenance requirements for the building and motor fleet – so I sort of feel a bit like the company ‘Mum’, if anyone has car trouble, payroll issues or building maintenance problems, it’s me they shout for!”
The packaging and weighing industry remains highly competitive, says Aitchison, “Competition has always been strong. The industry is constantly evolving, looking for new opportunities within the food industry. Timescales seem to get shorter with every year that passes!”
Increased tempo isn’t the only challenge that Yamato faces, with Marshall adding “Margins are being squeezed tighter and tighter, resulting in orders that are more price-driven.”
Excellent customer service, coupled with awareness of the industry and client’s needs, means that Yamato Scale Dataweigh UK is set to continue to thrive.
“Yamato has an enviable position in the market place; this has been built on quality, price and aftersales. These attributes are constant in a changing environment, and this constant has been the bedrock of Yamato UK” said Spencer.
Andrea Spencer,
Commercial and Marketing Manager,
Yamato Scale (UK) Dataweigh.
@YamatoScaleUK
Tel. 0113 322 1546
Email: andrea.spencer@yamatoscale.co.uk
About Yamato Scale Dataweigh (UK) Limited
Yamato is one of the leading global manufacturers of commercial weighing equipment and with over 90 years' manufacturing experience, we know what our customers need and expect.
Originally founded in 1922 as The Weighing Machine Division of Kawanishi Kikai K.K and later rebranded as Yamato Scale Ltd, Yamato is proud of its Japanese heritage; our passion to provide quality multihead weighers and deliver superior customer support is what drives us.
As a result Yamato’s multihead weighers and checkweighers have gained an unrivalled reputation worldwide, and our weighing machines are trusted by manufacturers in a range of industries across the globe; from granulated products and confectionery to meat and IQF frozen produce.
Yamato’s multihead weighers and checkweighers are energy efficient, accurate, hygienic, and easy to operate. The Dataweigh Omega multihead weigher, for instance, boasts a 60% reduction in power consumption without compromising on speed or effectiveness.
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