SUBCONTRACTING <
Lancashire company means business
Lancashire SME, the Merc Group is still on a high after scooping the title of Business of the Year 2011 at the Lancashire Telegraph Business Awards. Merc is a precision
component manufacturer to the aerospace, defence and power generation industries and has two Lancashire-based sites – Merc Engineering UK and Bright Spark Precision Engineering. Merc is a forward thinking company focused on long-term prosperity. During the difficult times of 2009 while many other companies were cutting back, the company continued to invest despite difficult operating conditions. Indeed a number of high value CNC machines were purchased during that time to enhance the company’s manufacturing capacity. New machinery meant new
people, and the 50 strong workforce soon became 70. Similarly, subsidiary company Bright Spark Precision Engineering also saw its workforce increase by around 50% in the same period to cater for a new found sales surge. The group now employs almost 100 people and will produce a turnover of £7 million this year, with an expected £9 million in sales next year. Spend on new machinery in the last couple of years is approaching £1 million,
Abrasive Machines For the
Largest range of ABRASIVE GRINDING, DEBURRING AND POLISHING MACHINES IN THE UK
CLICK ON
www.surtech.co.uk or ring
0121 359 4322
Since 1975
Timesaver, Grindingmaster, Autopulit Kuhlmeyer, VG, Sugino, and IEPC. The biggest names in Deburring, Brushing, Finishing. Inside and Out.
www.ellesco.co.uk sales@ellesco.co.uk Tel: 01202 499400
Advanced Sheet Metal & Profiling
but as managing director Les Nuttall explains, Merc is not a company that rests on its laurels. “Despite the fragile economy
we know there is plenty of work out there and we always actively pursue new business. Our policy on recruitment and capital expenditure means that if customers want to place business with us we’ll invest in the right people and the right kit to make sure it happens. It is due to this confident approach that as a company we tend to grow 30% year on year. This fell short in 2009 but the year after we bounced right back and grew by nearly 60%.” Merc Group’s commercial
director, Jon Hoyle adds: “Merc Engineering and Bright Spark Engineering enjoy a culture of continuous improvement and our aim is to be world class in our field. We are known for manufacturing difficult and intricate work in exotic alloys and this further adds to our list of differentiating features from the competition. As part of that niche, finding good people with the right skills and filling the gaps with pinpointed training is key to our success.” As part of this training ethic, Merc Group has taken the decisive step to make apprenticeships part of its rolling culture. Starting around five years ago the company has employed one or two young apprentices on every intake; however this year due to the success of the business and in preparation for the future, the firm has elected to take on five new starters – four in
manufacturing and one in administration.
“The manufacturing sector is tough, and with more and more overseas and UK-based competition we know that we have to be a star performer to stand out from the crowd,” Mr Nuttall concludes. “However, through continuous investment in the best technology and our staff we have the necessary ingredients to be successful.” Commenting on the Business of
the Year award, Mr Nuttall enthuses: “As a company we are incredibly proud of this award as it confirms to the workforce and the outside world that all our efforts have been worthwhile. Our employees view it as external recognition that they and the company are doing something right.”
> MERC
ENGINEERING
www.merceng.co.uk
Bore Solutions
Bore Solutions
Wwww.pbm-ltd.com T +44 (0) 1264 360800 E
steve.amey@
pbm-ltd.com
Chuck Jaws
Chuck Jaws t: 01844 208050
f: 01844 201699
THIS SPACE COSTS £335 FOR SIX MONTHS
T: 01634 830566 58 Production Engineering Solutions • January 2012
www.thameworkholding.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60