Tag Archives: manufacturing

Engineering, News, South West England News

Duo acquire pioneering engineering company

A specialist manufacturing company which supplies trenchless technology equipment to sectors including water, oil and gas has undergone a buyout.

Business partners Graham Edden and Pat Farrell have acquired Brewis Engineering for an undisclosed sum. The transaction has been supported with financial backing from WeDo Business Services.

Brewis, based in Somerset, specialises in the design, development and manufacture of equipment for the trenchless technology industry worldwide. Its products are used in the laying of pipes and cables in the water, oil and gas and utility industries.

The company was founded in 1984 by Rod Brewis in his garden shed. He invented the Brewis towing head to pull pipes ranging in diameter from 25mm to 900mm.

Other products in the Brewis portfolio include high flow transmitter housings, directional drilling swivels with a pullback capacity of up to 550 tons, along with cable swivels.

Brewis, which has 16 staff and is based at 10,000sq ft premises on the Marston Trading Estate in Frome, exports across Europe, the United States and Canada as well as to New Zealand and Australia, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, South Africa and India.

Following the buyout, Graham and Pat have become managing director and commercial director of Brewis respectively.

The pair have a wealth of business experience. Pat has spent most of his working life in the trenchless and construction industries. Graham is a seasoned investor and business leader who has built and run companies across a variety of sectors, including automotive, hospitality and waste management.

The deal provides an exit for Rod and his wife Sheila, who was company secretary. Paula Fitch has retired as commercial director. Operations director Michael Rudd remains with the business.

Graham said: “Brewis Engineering is renowned and respected throughout the world for its innovative, market-leading products. Rod and the team have laid a tremendous platform for us to build on and capitalise on the opportunities for growth, especially in the US but also in other territories.

“With the help of our fantastic and loyal workforce, we are looking to expand our manufacturing capacity and develop new products to provide sustainable growth over the coming years.

“Some of the staff have been with the company for more than 25 years, having served their apprenticeships with us, and there is a wealth of knowledge, skillsets and ideas among the team for us to harness and achieve our goals.

“We have some of the best engineers in the world here in the UK. The country’s design and manufacturing sector has a bright outlook despite the challenging economic headwinds, and we are proud to be playing our part in flying the flag.”

Rebekah Middleton and Jim McDonnell at WeDo Business Services arranged a funding package to help facilitate the buyout.

The WeDo group has its headquarters in Greater Manchester and additional offices nationwide. It provides invoice and trade finance, asset finance, loans and start-up funding to a growing client base, as well as accountancy, HR, back-office and IT services.

Rebekah said: “We were pleased to provide a package which enabled Graham and Pat to swiftly complete the acquisition once they engaged us. The founders and vendors, Rod and Sheila Brewis, have traded very successfully for 40 years and we wish them, Graham and Pat and the entire team all the very best for the future.”

Graham added: “Rebekah and Jim did a fantastic job in helping us to successfully complete the transaction. They were thorough, and moved mountains to get things done.

“We are excited to be taking a prestigious brand in the trenchless technology sector forward, using our extensive business and sector experience to support our customers and seize new opportunities.”

David Gledhill, Rachael Killworth and Jenny Chapman, of the asset-based lending team at law firm Bermans, provided advice and support to WeDo regarding the legal documentation involved in the transaction.

James Young and Helen Carter at Harding Evans Solicitors, based in South Wales, advised Graham and Pat on the acquisition. Financial due diligence was carried out by Marcel Frei, of GMT Finances.

Finance and Banking, News

Boost for UK SMEs as WeDo secures £50m in funding

WeDo Business Services has secured £50m in funding which will enable it to significantly expand its support of small and medium-sized companies across the UK.

The funding is provided by alternative investment manager Waterfall Asset Management and will be used to help WeDo bolster the growth of its SME customer base through a range of finance facilities.

The WeDo group has its headquarters in Greater Manchester and additional offices nationwide. It provides invoice and trade finance, asset finance, loans and start-up funding to a growing client base, as well as accountancy, HR, back-office and IT services.

WeDo was founded by Mark Lindsay and Chris Robinson in 2019 with just four staff and has grown rapidly through organic expansion and acquisition. It currently has over 70 staff across its Oldham headquarters and its network of offices.

Its overall lending now exceeds £50m, and chief executive Mark said Waterfall’s funding would enable it to achieve significant growth as it aims to reach £100m within the next three years.

WeDo’s nationwide client base spans a range of sectors, including recruitment, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and wholesale distribution.

Mark said: “This significant investment is a vote of confidence in our business and will help us to exponentially grow our ability to provide support to SMEs from across our finance divisions.

“We share a desire to establish a long-term relationship with the goal of helping more SMEs to succeed in building sustainable businesses for the future, by alleviating their cashflow constraints and enabling them to invest for future growth.

“WeDo has a strong track record of supporting the northern economy by offering finance to companies across the region and this will continue, as well as enabling us to significantly expand our geographical reach.

“There is increasing demand for the type of lending and support services we provide, reflected in a record month for new client wins in the first quarter of this year.

“We understand the challenges of growing a business from a new start, and we want to help others to do the same. It can be lonely as a business owner, and we provide a support network to ensure the wellbeing of themselves and their companies.”

James Cuby, managing director at Waterfall, said: “WeDo provides a comprehensive funding solution and support services to SMEs across the UK and has an experienced management team who are committed to supporting the growth of the businesses they fund.

“We are pleased to support WeDo’s expansion plans and look forward to a successful relationship.”

News

New distribution deal set to provide export boost for Goodfellow

A surge in demand for specialist metals and materials to support global R&D projects has seen Goodfellow hit a new export milestone.

The majority of the company’s current revenue is now sent overseas to 60 different countries and it is planning for a further 50% boost in the Iberian market after signing a new distribution agreement with MicroPlanet.

The deal will strengthen its presence in a key territory that is currently home to a significant amount of research and high value manufacturing that requires some of the 170,000 different metals and materials distributed from its Ermine Business Park facility.

Both firms share several synergies and values, including world class customer service, speed of response, quality products and the importance of investing in technical knowledge and support.

The agreement comes at an exciting time for Goodfellow, who has also just rebranded for the first time in over 45 years and launched a new client-centric website (www.goodfellow.com).

“Export has been at the core of our offering for decades and, as such, we invest heavily in ensuring we have a strong ‘local’ presence on the ground in key markets,” explained Simon Kenney, Chief Executive Officer of Goodfellow.

“This is achieved by great distributors like MicroPlanet in Iberia and through other agreements we have in place with Goodfellow GmbH, SARL and Corp in the USA. Understanding different markets and their customer requirements is critical to our expansion, with international sales increasing each year.”

He went on to add: “Our ongoing investment in stockholding, our expert team of technical scientists and bespoke processing services continue to be a valuable resource for R&D departments and scientific specialists looking to push the boundaries of innovation that achieve cutting-edge applications all over the world.

“These include new opportunities in fusion energy, battery technology, space exploration and a new cancer treatment.”

Goodfellow, which employs more than 100 people at its site in Huntindgon, has also pressed the button on new branding to reflect the modern-day image of the business.

Inspiration for the new design was taken from the baseline of the firm’s products at a nano, microscopic and macroscopic level, with the shapes corresponding to rods, tubes, balls and beads.

These spheres are collated together to form the brand icon that sits above the new Goodfellow strapline of ‘Advanced Materials, Innovation Delivered’.

This marketing milestone for the business comes at the same time as the new website launch, an extensive project that has taken nine-months to complete and has involved pretty much every member of the team.

The concept is to create an immersive site that showcases the ethos of the company, acts as a unique technical guide for R&D and scientific experts and, importantly, makes it easy for existing and new customers to navigate the 170,000 different products it can supply.

Claire Hartley, Chief Marketing Officer, continued: “Linking the website with a dynamic visual identity, which has the potential to bring other brands in underneath it, was extremely important for us as we look to grow further across the world and deliver a best-in-class user experience.

“It’s an integral part of the marketing mix and a new way for us to continuously improve the way we engage with our growing client base.”

She concluded: “There will be lots of new content, new project launches and improved frequency of customer communications to educate and add value. This will be in person, at events, webinars and through our new podcast series.”

Awards, News

Sertec Group named as Company of the Year at the ‘Metalforming Oscars’

A supplier of millions of components every day to cars, lorries and engines has been named as the Confederation of British Metalforming’s Company of the Year at a prestigious event last night.

Sertec Group, which employs over 2200 people across ten global locations, beat off strong competition from the sector to win the main award, with judges impressed by ‘its journey to excellence’ that has seen it enjoy a major increase in productivity, improvements in on-time delivery in full and the implementation of a comprehensive employee engagement approach.

With 200 people in attendance at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham, the Coleshill Headquartered company was joined on stage by KMF Precision Sheet Metal’s Kayleigh Simm (Apprentice of the Year) and G-TEM, who was a double winner on the evening (HSE Initiative and Energy Efficiency).

The latter, a global manufacturer of vehicle body structures, has demonstrated a clear passion for implementing ISO 45001 with the aim of creating a safer working environment, whilst its commitment towards Net Zero by 2035 has seen it introduce quarterly energy audits and commission a 200% increase in its solar power capability.

Emissions have decreased by more than a quarter (28%) because of these initiatives, with sales also growing by a staggering 56% due to major new business awards.

Steve Morley, President of the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), commented: “It has been another difficult year for the metalforming sector, who are facing up to global conflicts, continued supply chain disruption and high inflation.

“In spite of all this, our members have continued to show great resilience and innovation to post increased sales, export growth and investment in safety, people and new technology.”

He continued: “This is illustrated by the winners at our Annual Dinner. All of them are striving to be the best they can be in their respective fields and, importantly, are committed to raising the profile of our sector and what UK manufacturing can do.”

19-year-old Kayleigh Simm is putting ‘girl power’ on the industrial map after she was recognised as the CBM’s Apprentice of the Year.

She joined Newcastle-under-Lyme’s KMF Precision Sheet Metal in 2022 and her drive for engineering has shone through as she progresses within the company and, importantly, in the way she champions vocational learning to other young people.

This has seen her lead a KMF team at 15 school and college career fairs, as well as acting as an outstanding apprentice advocate on its Apprenticeship Open Day that attracted over 140 visitors.

Kayleigh is now setting her sights on undertaking a degree in Manufacturing Engineering.

Geraldine Bolton, CEO of the CBM, went on to add: “It is fantastic to have a female engineer win the Apprentice of the Year title, and this will no doubt help us attract more girls into our sector.

“Our Annual Dinner continues to be an excellent vehicle for promoting and celebrating the very best of the UK’s metalforming sector. In addition to the awards, more than 200 guests also enjoyed an inspirational talk by Dave Heeley OBE, who has earned the nickname of ‘Blind Dave’ after raising hundreds of thousands of pounds completing marathons and other endurance challenges.”

The Confederation of British Metalforming represents the interests of more than 200 UK manufacturers of fasteners, forgings, pressings, cold rolled and sheet-metal products.

Its Awards were kindly sponsored by Crowe UK, Greenfields Energy Group, Steel & Alloy Gonvarri Industries, and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

For further information, please visit www.thecbm.co.uk

Manufacturing, News

Report reveals ‘True Impact’ of manufacturing is nearly a quarter of UK GDP

Manufacturing is having a far greater impact on the UK economy than first thought according to a major new report released today.

‘The True Impact of UK Manufacturing’, which will be unveiled at MACH 2024 in Birmingham later, shows industry is worth £518billion and supports 7.3million UK jobs directly and across the supply chains/communities it operates in.

This represents nearly a quarter of total GDP (23%) and far bigger than the direct contribution of 8.2% that is usually quoted by economists.

Carried out by Oxford Economics and the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), the in-depth report also shows that ‘making things’ accounts for 34.5% of all UK goods and services exports, whilst the median wage is £31,300 – 11% higher than the national median wage.

The findings are even more impressive when you consider the sector has had to navigate a myriad of challenges outside its control in recent years, including changing relations with the European Union, the Covid-19 pandemic, unprecedented increases in energy costs and global supply chain fragility and international conflicts.

MTA’s Chief Executive Officer, James Selka is now urging the sector to build on this report by exploring ways in which it can address the skills shortage and develop successful programmes, such as the High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres, to increase wealth creation by commercialising more of the great ideas and innovations born in the UK.

“This is a fantastic insight into the true impact of manufacturing in the UK and reinforces what many of us already know – that industry is a far greater contributor to GDP and jobs than listed in national accounts,” commented James.

“Our report has been designed to take a ‘deeper dive’ and looks at the direct, indirect, and induced impacts of manufacturing, which is a far more comprehensive overview of what we make, the complex nature of our supply chains and the economic benefit gained from the spending of wages by those employed in our sector.”

He continued: “The results illustrate that manufacturing accounts for £518bn of GDP and supports 7.3m jobs, most of which enjoy higher than average wages.

“We are also a part of the economy that invests heavily in new technologies, with nearly half (47%) of total R&D investment made by manufacturers. You only have to visit MACH this week to see this first-hand, with more than 500 companies showcasing the latest in automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, latest software, advanced CNC machining and measurement and inspection solutions.”The MTA is now calling on a well-integrated commitment from the whole nation to help industry realise its potential, ranging from business leaders and academics to policymakers so crucial in developing a cross-party industrial strategy.

The recent Advanced Manufacturing Plan – accompanied by support worth £4.5bn – has been welcomed as a step in the right direction and an important vehicle in helping to cultivate the new technologies and industries being born, such as electrification, lightweighting, less carbon intensive materials and renewable energy.

Introducing new measures that increase exports should also be a priority and there is an unprecedented opportunity to deliver critical sovereign capabilities from public health to defending our realm.

MACH 2024

The True Impact of UK Manufacturing report will be officially launched at MACH 2024 by MTA President Tony Bowkett.

Set over five days at the NEC (15-19th April) in Birmingham, the event is the biggest in the UK’s industrial calendar and attracts over 30,000 people from the manufacturing community and more than 500 companies.

More than £200m of business is expected to be completed during the week as some of the country’s most innovative firms unveil new technologies and machines designed to boost productivity and global competitiveness.

MACH, which has a huge focus on sustainable manufacturing and carbon reduction through its six Knowledge Hubs, is also a big attraction for young people looking for a career in industry, with 3,500 students (aged between 12 and 18) set to attend the show.

Headline sponsors Lloyds Bank welcomed the findings of the latest report. David Atkinson, UK Head of Manufacturing SME and Mid Corporates, commented: “As this report highlights, manufacturing is an integral part of the UK economy, through GDP contribution, job creation, and as a source of high wages.

“When you consider the sector’s extended reach through its supply chains and beyond, you can really start to see the scale of its contribution.

“Manufacturers have demonstrated agility and resilience in the past few years of uncertainty, and we are responding by continuing to invest in partnerships in the sector that ensure it has the skills, tools and support needed to compete on a global scale.”

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, concluded: “Manufacturing has always been a strategically important sector for UK economy and, none more so than now, given the immense societal, political and economic challenges that we face.

“Just as the first industrial revolution provided a step change, the accelerating pace of technological change of the fourth industrial revolution gives us a generational opportunity to do the same now. This valuable report highlights to those in power now and in the future, how manufacturing is greater than the sum of its parts.”

To download the report, please visit The true impact of UK manufacturing (mta.org.uk). More information on MACH 2024 can be found here https://www.machexhibition.com.

Construction, L & D, News

QUEST takes expertise to the next level

Electrical contractor and facilities management provider QUEST Ltd has taken its offer to the next level with a major investment in staff training and qualifications.

QUEST engineers are now all CompEx qualified, CompEx is the international scheme for the competency and certification of personnel who work in explosive atmospheres.

The qualifications mean that QUEST engineers can now operate efficiently and effectively in any of their customers’ facilities.

Dominic Miller, Technical Director at QUEST, said: “Our customers were telling us how time-consuming and expensive it was sourcing specialist engineers and we decided that this was an opportunity to demonstrate that QUEST offers a genuine one-stop-shop.

“We always focus on meeting the needs of our customers and on improving the skills and career opportunities for our colleagues and investing in this training was a great opportunity to do both.”

The CompEx certification ensures that engineers are qualified to adhere to DSEAR and  Atex regulations.

DSEAR, which stands for the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, aims to prevent, or limit the harmful effects of fire, explosion, and similar energy-releasing events, as well as corrosion to metals.

DSEAR requires that employers must identify which dangerous substances are present in their workplace and the associated risks. Control measures must be put in place to either remove those risks or, where not possible to control them, furthermore, to identify and classify areas of the workplace where explosive atmospheres may occur and to avoid ignition sources (from unprotected equipment, for example) in those areas. 

ATEX is an initialism of the term ATmosphères EXplosibles (French for “explosive atmospheres”). ATEX is a European directive that in part regulates the equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. ATEX zones are areas in which there is a risk of explosion due to the presence of flammable gases, vapours, or dust. 

Demand for these services has grown in recent years and many manufacturing and large food production facilities require these qualifications.

QUEST is already accredited by NICEIC, CompEx and SafeContractor.

For more information, please visit https://electrical-contracting.co.uk

News

PP Plus launches to bridge the UK’s commercial ‘valley of death’

The best of manufacturing, business and academia have come together to bridge the £bn+ commercial valley of death in the UK.

PP Plus, which is being led by PP Control & Automation, is delivering immediate access to specialist expertise and knowledge to help support companies looking to develop and scale green technologies.

More than 20 organisations are involved in the biggest growth support network currently available in the UK, including the likes of Brandauer, Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems, Cleveland Scott York, Product Approvals, Protolabs, Silverstone Technology Cluster and WMG.

Together, they can take innovators from concept development and prototyping to protecting their IP, contract manufacturing and driving sales through PR and marketing.

“PP Plus is all about unlocking and commercialising the ideas that will contribute to a more sustainable future, making UK manufacturing stronger and more successful,” commented Tony Hague, CEO of PP Control & Automation.

“It is clear that the UK has a wealth of innovative companies that come up with new concepts and ideas that have true commercial potential and the opportunity to scale. However, they simply don’t have the capacity or additional expertise to realise these fantastic ideas.

“Even if they know where to look for this, they often tie themselves in knots trying to find the right route as the traditional support network is convoluted. We know this first hand from working with companies on innovative new technologies, so felt the best approach was to create our own way forward.”

He went on to add: “That is where PP Plus was born and the reaction from industry partners, business development strategists and some of the UK’s leading universities has been phenomenal. We now believe we have everything in place to take potential customers on and through the entire journey.”

PP Plus’ initial focus will be on supporting companies developing solutions for clean energy, future mobility, agritech innovation and machinery/equipment that contribute to a circular economy.

This will create sustainable innovations that will answer critical questions about how we are going to feed ourselves in the future, how do we ‘power’ our society and how do we travel without destroying our planet.

The journey starts with a 1-hour discovery session that is completely free of charge and will identify the next steps and the specialist support required to commercialise and scale up the technologies.

That may see the client access one, two or three of the main pillars (manufacturing, business, academia) covering anything from product approval and manufacturing capabilities to accessing grants and funding, marketing support and collaborative research and testing facilities.

Sara Williams, Senior Marketing Manager at Protolabs, added her support: “PP Plus is a great initiative that meets an ever-present need in the UK to bridge the valley of death, pulling lots of commercial, manufacturing, and academic expertise together in one easy to access programme.

“Protolabs is delighted to be one of the founding members and look forward to working closely with all the partners involved to leverage the collective strength of our knowledge and expertise.”

PP Plus has already received significant interest and a number of early projects have entered the ‘discovery’ phrase.

For further information, please visit www.pp-plus.org

Creative News, Marketing, PR and SEO, News

Stafford agency sponsors the National Manufacturing Summit

Technical PR agency Stone Junction is sponsoring the 2024 National Manufacturing Summit (NMS), taking place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) on March 14. The convention of British manufacturers, advanced engineering companies and broader government, funding and academic stakeholders will be the first public, in-person debut of Stone Junction’s new branding. NMS is a hybrid event, run simultaneously in person and online by MTC Events, and is free to attend. More information and tickets can be found here.

 NMS returns after a successful 2023 event, which attracted in-person representatives from 265 companies and nearly 6,000 online participants. The 2024 conference promises to be even bigger, with keynote speeches on The Exponential Age from Arash Ghazanfari, CTO of Dell Technologies and Reimagining Human Flight from Richard Browning, founder and chief test pilot of Gravity Industries.

Elyn Corfield, CEO for business and commercial banking at Lloyds Banking Group, will give a keynote address on the skills gap and workforce challenges facing British manufacturing and engineering in both the short- and long-term future.

“The manufacturing industry has been facing some difficult challenges in light of the skills shortage, rising prices and supply chain difficulties,” explained Leah Elston-Thompson, account director at Stone Junction. “But there are also huge opportunities. NMS is a great event, attracting incredible speakers and an engaged pool of delegates, to discuss the latest developments and how we can collectively drive British manufacturing forward.”

Stone Junction is a specialist STEM agency, with more than 50 clients from the science, tech, engineering and manufacturing industries. The company provides consultancy and brand strategy, creative PR and marketing, branding, design, and content services, and will be available to discuss how it can support delegates at the event.

To find out how Stone Junction could help your manufacturing or engineering business to communicate with your target customer base, read about our technical PR capabilities here: https://www.wechangeminds.com/sector/technical-pr/.

News

Former rugby stars prove a big hit at Howorth Air Technology

Rugby league players are used to making big hits on the pitch – now former stars of the sport are proving a big hit off the field, helping Howorth Air Technology stay ahead of the game on employee welfare.

Howorth’s partnership with the charity Rugby League Cares sees ex-players draw on their personal experiences and specialist training to deliver mental fitness and wellbeing workshops to the company’s employees.

The latest coaching session at Howorth under the charity’s Offload programme was delivered by Bob Beswick, whose league career saw him make 433 senior appearances for clubs including Wigan, Widnes and Leigh, as well as 25 international caps for Ireland.

Howorth director John Hale said teaming up with Rugby League Cares has proved to be a great match.

“The positive impact of the Offload sessions delivered to our teams flows through to productivity and the bottom line. The partnership with Rugby League Cares is one of the many building blocks that has enabled our business growth and employee engagement over recent years,” he said.

The partnership also sees Howorth staff hold events at its sites in Bolton and Salford to raise funds for the charity.

Rugby League Cares, founded 10 years ago, is an independent charity which supports players at the end of their careers by providing education and training grants to equip them with the skills and qualifications they need for the next stage of their lives. It also provides practical and financial support to current and former players who have poor health or are enduring hardship.

In the communities where rugby league is played, the Offload programme has helped tens of thousands of people in businesses and organisations to better manage their own mental wellbeing and support those around them.

Many Howorth staff are avid RL fans and the company has won several awards for its commitment to the development, wellbeing and engagement of its employees.

John said: “We have a proud culture of valuing and empowering our people, providing a safe and enjoyable place to work and enabling them to receive the technical and wellbeing support they need to develop in their jobs and thrive in their lives as a whole.

“We know from the positive feedback we’ve received that the Offload sessions are of real tangible benefit to the individuals taking part, their family circles and friendships.

“People feel that they help them to build resilience and coping strategies. They’ve been motivated and empowered to look after themselves from a mental fitness and wellbeing perspective, and that in turn has had a beneficial impact on the business and employee engagement.

“We have six Offload workshops each year, which are well-attended, and we provide monthly drop-in sessions as part of the programme too. We also help the charity by raising funds, and we open our doors to RL players who are looking to transition from their career as a professional athlete, to help them to understand business and the 9-5 life.”

Howorth, which has its headquarters in Farnworth, Bolton, and a facility at Raven Locks in Little Hulton, Salford, designs, manufactures and assembles ultra clean air equipment for use in operating theatres, and for the pharma, biotechnology and life science industries. The company, which turns over more than £20m a year, employs over 130 staff across its operations in the UK and the United States.

John was among the guests at a recent event at Speaker’s House in Westminster. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons and president of the Rugby Football League, hosted the event, which was held to showcase the work of Rugby League Cares and recognise the support of its partners.

Chris Rostron, chief executive of Rugby League Cares, said: “We were delighted that Howorth were able to join us at Speaker’s House as we celebrated both the important work the charity does in rugby league communities and the vision we share with our partners for enhancing the mental fitness of those closest to us.

“Howorth’s progressive and proactive approach to mental wellbeing is reflected in the company’s continued growth, and everyone at RL Cares is proud of the part we are playing in that success. Howorth’s managing director Jim Liptrot and his team are passionate advocates for our Offload programme and we would like to thank them for championing our work so enthusiastically within the corridors of power at Westminster.”

Appointments, News

A new face in France for composites sales

Global composites manufacturer Exel Composites has appointed Tiphaine Ricoup to the role of area sales manager for French-speaking Europe. As part of Exel’s global sales team, Mrs. Ricoup will work closely with existing customers and extend relations to new business. Exel Composites’ project workflow involves staying close to its customers throughout the R&D process and, with five years of sales experience, Mrs. Ricoup will be a dedicated contact for French speakers in France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

Mrs. Ricoup is a qualified engineer who has worked previously for the French Naval Group, managing target strength projects for the navy. She also designed technical solutions as a bid manager for the Exail Group, using underwater drones to destroy mines. This technical engineering experience will serve her well in her consultant capacity, as she’ll be available to answer customer queries, and will benefit the growing composites market in Western Europe.

“Opening up the potential of composite materials to France, Belgium, and Switzerland is my mission,” said Mrs. Ricoup. “Composites can help with so many issues in Europe, such as building thermal renovation, lightweight transportation components, and refurbishing infrastructure.

“Although the European manufacturing and engineering communities know composite materials and their benefits, I think highlighting the value of continuous manufacturing methods, such as pultrusion and pull-winding, will be an important part of my responsibilities,” continued Mrs. Ricoup. “Exel’s experience in these processes allows it to produce long profiles of uniform quality, with great speed and efficiency. I’m looking forward to returning to an active sales environment and forging relationships with new and existing customers.”

“Exel Composites’ market share in Europe is growing in a way we’re really happy with, so now is a perfect time to add Tiphaine to the team,” explained Roberto Oppio, head of sales for Western Europe at Exel Composites. “The combination of her sales and technical experience makes her a great fit to understand our customers’ needs and form strong relationships to be able to anticipate their requirements.

“Finding composite solutions across different industrial sectors is Exel’s business and Tiphaine strengthens the European team’s ability to find those solutions for customers. As the first point of contact and the face of Exel for French speakers across the region, she will ensure a high level of service and support for our customers.”

To find out how Exel Composites’ expertise in pultrusion and pull-winding could serve your business, contact the company at https://exelcomposites.com/contact-us/