A COMPANY supplying architectural fittings for developments across the world is on course to achieve record sales.
Elland-based Andy Thornton increased turnover by £3m in 2007, an 18% improvement.
It also has a strong order book for this financial year.
The firm’s contracts division is completing a £50,000 project for the hospitality suite at Mumbai Cricket Academy in India and a £500,000 bar refurbishment in Menorca.
It has also secured a £4m deal to fit out shopfronts and provide signs at retail outlets in Poland and Romania and has orders for bars from regular customers in Norway and the USA.
Managing director Peter Siddall, who led a management buy-out of the business in 2005, said the company had consolidated its strong position as a major supplier to the hospitality and leisure markets.
He added: “While the main focus has been on increasing market share in the UK the company has maintained its strong exporting tradition.
“With a number of overseas projects in the pipeline we expect exports to represent 40% of sales this year.”
The firm’s architectural metalwork department has lifted sales by 30% in the past two years and is on target further boost turnover in 2008.
Mr Siddall said: “This growth comes on the back of considerable financial investment in this part of the business.
“We have doubled the size of the department’s manufacturing space, appointed an experienced new manager to head up the department and added three further skilled fabricators to the workforce.”
He added: “The growing demand for external metalwork structures is due in part to the UK smoking ban.
“This has resulted in the need for suitable shelters outside pubs, bars, clubs and other commercial buildings.”
The department has also completed projects to design, make and fit several large glazed canopies around the new restaurant building at Boundary Mills retail outlet in Colne, Lancashire, which opened last month.
Other projects include supplying two gazebos for the Hong Kong Government– which have been installed in parks on the island – and installing brass balustrades in the Barton Square home furnishings area at the Trafford Centre, Manchester.
Mr Siddall said: “We plan to grow sales turnover to more than £20m in the next two to three years.
“With first-quarter sales for 2008 up by 37% and an order book almost double that of the same period last year there is every reason to be optimistic.”
The company has been trading for more than 30 years, formerly as Andy Thornton Architectural Antiques and since 2005 as Andy Thornton.
In November, 2005, the management buyout was completed by five former associate directors led by Mr Siddall, at which time the founding directors left the company.
The firm employs almost 200 people at sites in Elland and Greetland.
Its products division sells a range of more than 4,000 items, including furniture, lighting and outdoor products for the hospitality market worldwide.
The division is also the UK’s largest supplier of salvaged architectural antiques and decorative accessories.
The contracts division offers a full project design and management service as well as having its own joinery and architectural metalwork facility in Elland.
