XCS Systems Ltd News archive 2010-2019

2019 News

Updated contact information

We will shortly be switching off the fax machine for good. This reflects the fact that we have neither sent or received a fax message in a very long time. Details of how to contact us can be found here.

XCS enters it's twentieth year

The end of May 2019 saw XCS Systems Limited turn nineteen. As we enter our twentieth year we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to our success over the years as we look forward to it continuing for many more to come.

Safe Contractor status renewed

Once again we have been approved as a Safe Contractor. This is a requirement of many of our customers, and something that we are only too proud to have, once again, successfully achieved.

Happy New Year

We would like to wish a Happy and prosperous 2019 to all of our customers and suppliers.

2018 News

XCS turns 18

On May 31st XCS reached its 18th anniversary. Many thanks to all of those who have helped us to reach this important milestone.

Happy New Year

We would like to wish a very Happy, and prosperous, New Year to all of our customers and suppliers.

2017 News

Happy 17th Birthday to XCS Systems Ltd.

May 31st marks the seventeenth anniversary of the forming of our company. Heartfelt thanks to all of those who have helped us to succeed over the last seventeen years.

Continued support for local children's sports

Despite not covering it in the news since 2008 and 2009, we have continued to support the Worcester RFC junior side, and we have recently also supported a local village cricket team, to help pay for team shirts and the training of new coaches.

Happy New Year

Wishing a Happy, and prosperous, New Year to all of our customers and suppliers.

2016 News

Sweet Sixteen

On 31st May 2016 XCS turned 16 years old. A very Happy Birthday to us, and a huge "Thank You" to all our customers and suppliers, who have helped to make this possible.

Working with Virtual machines

Over the last ten years I have noticed a growing number of software engineers who, like myself, use virtual machines on which to run their work software.
As a long term user of Macs, one advantage of the change to Intel processors in 2006 was that I could now use a Mac for work. I didn't get my first Intel MacBook Pro until 2008, and it was then that I first started to use VMware Fusion. I still had my work PC, but having my Mac as a backup was great.
Very quickly the advantages of Virtual Machines became obvious. A great way to keep a complete backup of your entire machine. The ability to keep software from different vendors on different VMs. And the biggest advantage, in my opinion, when program "x" only runs on XP, while program "y" needs Windows 7.
Now liberated from the need to have Windows as my main work OS, I started thinking about alternatives that could run on my work PC. I personally don't think the Mac is an ideal machine for an industrial environment, and I wanted to keep it as a backup while taking something a little more expendable (and cheaper!) onto the shop floor. I had experimented with GNU/Linux off and on since the mid '90s. But had never had a good enough experience to convince me to convert. Four years ago I tried Ubuntu 12.04 LTS on my old Toshiba and everything just worked. Plus the default Unity desktop was an easy transition for me as a Mac user. I've never looked back, I even have an old MacBook (late 2007) running the latest Ubuntu, alongside a four year old OSX 10.7 (Lion), which is the newest Mac OS that it will support.
These days I tend to keep my work machine on the latest LTS version, and my old work machine on the current release. It just so happens that the current release of Ubuntu is the new LTS release. Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, code named Xenial Xerus, is a Long Term Support version and will receive updates for five years. A new version is released every six months, with LTS versions every two years. To try Ubuntu click on the link below:

Happy New Year!

We would like to wish a very Happy 2016 to all our families, friends, colleagues, customers, and suppliers from everyone at XCS Systems Ltd. We look forward to another successful year of working together.

2015 News

XCS turns 15

May 31st marks our 15th anniversary. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to our success over the last decade and a half

Energy Saving

Energy saving initiatives are something that we have been increasingly involved with for a number of years. Be it with pressure transducer control of vacuum elevators, stopping conveying when not required, or reducing air and vacuum usage of machines.
But why should this just be something we do for our customers? As well as the eventual payback, there is also the question of environmental responsibility. It is in this area that we feel companies like ours should be leading the way and setting an example of what can be easily achieved. So we will shortly begin the installation of solar panels, LED lighting, and air conditioning with heat pumps at our office and workshop in Droitwich.

Happy New Year!

We would like to wish a very Happy 2015 to all our families, friends, colleagues, customers, and suppliers from everyone at XCS Systems Ltd. We look forward to another successful year of working together.

2014 News

Happy Holidays!

We would like to wish all of our, customers, and suppliers, our very best wishes for for the Christmas and New Year holiday period. We are looking forward to working with you again next year.

XCS entering it's 15th year

May the 31st will mark the beginning of our 15th year in business. Many thanks to everyone who has helped to make the last fourteen years so successful.

New server hosting our xcssystems.co.uk domain

We have just transferred our domain to a new hosting service. While this should be a seamless transition, we apologise if you experience any problems with the site.

XCS planning imminent expansion

As we approach our fourteenth anniversary, we are pleased to announce that plans are afoot for an expansion in the range of products and services we offer our customers. Watch this space for more information.

Happy New Year!

We would like to wish a very Happy 2014 to all our families, friends, colleagues, customers, and suppliers from everyone at XCS Systems Ltd. We look forward to another successful year of working together.

2013 News

XCS enters it's 14th year in business

May 31st marked the end of our 13th year in business. And with projects coming up in the UK, Europe, South East Asia, India, and North America, it looks like year number 14 will be busier than ever

Happy New Year!

A very Happy 2013 to all our families, friends, colleagues, customers, and suppliers from everyone at XCS Systems Ltd. We look forward to another successful year of working together.

2012 News

XCS turns twelve

On May the 31st XCS Systems commenced its thirteenth year, and we've never been busier. Sincere thanks to all who have helped to make the last twelve years such a success.

Long term commitment to the increase of work in Asia

Over the last three years the number of Asian projects has increased dramatically. We have installed and commissioned a number of presses for Can and End making in China, and commissioned several lines in both China and South East Asia. This has effectively meant that we have had a constant presence in Asia for over two years, often with more than one engineer. With a large project soon to begin in India, that will occupy up to two engineers for the second half of this year, we are pleased to announce that, effective immediately, we have one engineer permanently based in South East Asia. This will enable us to respond more quickly to our customers requirements, while reducing transport times and costs.

Happy New Year!

A very Happy and prosperous 2012 to all our families, friends, colleagues, customers, and suppliers from everyone at XCS Systems.

2011 News

XCS Systems celebrates eleventh Birthday!

May 31st marked XCS Systems' eleventh anniversary. Our sincere thanks to all those who continue to contribute to our success.

Happy New Year!

A very Happy and prosperous New Year to all from everyone at XCS Systems.

2010 News

Happy Holidays!

We would like to wish all of our, customers, and suppliers, our very best wishes for for the Christmas and New Year holiday period. We are looking forward to working with you again next year.

Plant commissioning in South East Asia nears completion

Having previously worked on individual machine start ups in China. We're currently nearing completion of start up support for an entire can line in Viet Nam. The line consists mostly of second-hand equipment, of up to 30 years old, which was previously operating on a different supply voltage and frequency. We have re-engineered and redrawn the machine circuits, then carried out the necessary modifications on site, and finally assisted in the commissioning and start up of commercial production.

We are Ten!

On the 31st of May 2010 XCS Systems celebrated it's tenth anniversary. Our sincere thanks to all who have contributed to our success over the last decade. We look forward to continued success over the next one, and beyond. Cheers!

A Very Happy, and prosperous, 2010 to all!

We wish you all the very best for 2010; and look forward to continuing to work together into the new decade.