Akutek - Designing The Future.

At Akutek we are committed to bringing new technologies and new ways of working to the saddlery industry. We are not interested in re-designing the shape and form of the classic english riding saddle, as in our opinion the intrinsic shape and form cannot be beaten. However, we are committed to developing products, machinery and processes for changing the way that saddles are manufactured.

This we believe is not ‘change for change sake’ but more about ‘necessity being the mother of invention’.

In Walsall in the  late 1800’s there was an estimated 3500 people involved in the leather Industry, today by our estimation it is around 500 and within that an estimated 130 working saddlers.

For many years now I have been in the trusted position by many of Walsall’s manufacturers to have free access to most factories in the town, and it has given me a clear insight and understanding of where the trade is heading and what issues have to be overcome. We estimate the total saddle production from Walsall is 750 – 850 saddles per week. My major concern for the industry at this stage is that the average age of our 130 working saddlers in Walsall is now 55.

In the next 5 – 10 years I would estimate that more than half of the working saddlers will be retiring or reaching retirement age. With no real apprenticeships or training schemes in place and without any advances or increases in productivity the estimated total saddle production will have to be around 350 – 450 saddles per week.

There is a potential time bomb ticking away right in front of us that will not go away. Some serious commitment to product design allied with the implementation of modern materials and production machinery is now required and Akutek has already begun addressing this most serious issue. We are not interested in de-skilling an industry; we are interested in keeping an industry alive. Some traditional manufacturing methods will always require that personal touch of the craftsman, however we also recognise the many advances in materials and production techniques are required for the industry to move forward and stay alive in the future.

We are quite aware that there are set parameters that we have to work within, as many of our customers produce saddles to a bespoke specification: different front gussets, different rear gusset, different panel options, different knee and thigh blocks, differing flap arrangements, differing girthing arrangements all on differing adjustable modern trees. These parameters are already set as part of our design process and our goal is to take these parameters and design processes around them.

By utilising the latest developments in CAD/CAM technologies we can create better more uniform and more conistancy of design to saddles. This is no altruistic measure from our part, as the future of our business depends on the saddlers selling saddles so our objective is to work with our customers to keep saddle production as high as possible.

We have a range of in-house facilities: the latest Mitituyo Cordinated Measuring Machine to capture data from saddle trees to horse and rider profiles, this in turn is used by our in house CAD design package to reverse engineer moulds and forms, we then cut those forms using the very latest 5 axis CNC technology. Very recently we have again invested significantly in a Mazak Laser cutting machine that cuts a variety of materials including: Mild Steel, Stainless Steel, plastics and wood to precise patterns that are CAD generated.

We have our own in house tool room facilities where we manufacture tooling for head plates, saddle tree moulds metal work, saddle fittings etc. We have recently installed the latest Cannon PU moulding machine that we use to produce accurate knee rolls, blocks and seat forms all from moulds that we produce in house to perfect symmetry and tolerances.

Saddle Maker Required.

As part of our expansion and development plans we now require an experienced saddle maker who along with our design team will be responsible for looking at the manufacturing process in very close detail, you will work with our design engineer to come up with new products, processes and machinery to help us move the industry forward. The successful candidate will have an excellent knowledge of every area of saddle production. From Tree design through pattern making, machining and saddle construction.

So if you are a working saddler with a passion and a commitment to our trade and who would welcome a new challenge and opportunity within the industry then please do give us a call. All enquiries will be treated in the very strictest of confidence.

T: Ian Rea on: 01922 457755    E: ianrea@lariot.co.uk

Below you will find some images that have inspired us to realise and understand that it is by embracing technology that every industry moves forward.

                                                          Automotive: Engine Plant.

Pattern Making:

                                                                          Automotive.

Engineering:

F1.

    

Glass Making. 

Shoe Industry.

Thank you for taking the time to read through our latest information.

Ian Rea