Manufacturing & Engineering

UK manufacturers show the way
It was great to hear some good news stories from UK based manufacturers at the IoD breakfast in Birmingham yesterday. Dr Alex Celik, of Rosehill Polymers and John Hanson, of Hanson Springs told the delegates about their drive into export markets, and how diversifying their product ranges had led to new markets and increased sales.

Rosehill Polymers has been at the forefront of innovative polymer technology for over 20 years. Their range of systems have been developed for a variety of uses deployed across a wide range of industries and applications. Over the last few years they have been expanding steadily, both in terms of new markets covered and also turnover. Based in Halifax, they employ 74 and have a turnover of £21m with much going to export.

Hanson Springs, has grown consistently to become one of the world's leading specialist spring manufacturers. Their range of springs for safety relief valves, actuators, control valves, ball valves and pipe supports are produced to exacting standards in their UK manufacturing plants and distributed world-wide.
In the last eight years turnover has risen from £5m to over £20m with exports now accounting for 75% of sales. Based in Rochdale they now employ 175.

Having been in the doldrums for many years and had its death predicted endlessly, the sector has not only survived but seems to be one of the best performing areas to work in at the moment.  After many years of playing second fiddle to cheaper overseas manufacturing, we have seen a steady rise in clients exporting to Europe and an acknowledgment that precision quality products are worth paying for.

Recruitment and investment plans among manufacturers are at record levels as the sector maintains strong growth, with manufacturers continuing to increase employment levels.

The Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) said a survey of more than 500 firms showed that exports were behind "strong" orders, but it added a note of caution about the durability of the economic recovery.

EEF chief economist Lee Hopley said: "Manufacturers have picked up this year where they left off in 2010, with output growing and little sign that the export-led recovery is about to dry up in the near term.

Highlighted projects:
Managing Director - Industrial consumables/tooling
Five Managers for a pump manufacturer
Manufacturing Improvement Manager - International group
Environmental Manager - International Manufacturing Group
Export Sales Manager - Capital Equipment