A COMPANY supplying glazing for some of Huddersfield’s most prestigious buildings is weathering the downturn with a string of contracts.
Dortech Architectural Systems, based at Fieldhouse Business Park in Huddersfield, has reported a strong forward order book which could herald a record year for turnover and profitability.
The company, which supplied products for schemes including Huddersfield University’s creative arts building and business school, remains in demand for major schemes across the UK.
Recent completed contracts included a prestigious commission in the heart of the Midlands.
Dortech’s £1.5m contract for BAM Construction involved creating new entrances, glazed concourses, retail areas and a glazed link bridge for the first phase of a £174m mixed use development in Wolverhampton.
When completed, the Wolverhampton Interchange scheme will bring together a new transport hub for trains and buses with offices, shops and restaurants.
The new bus station boasts a stylish glass entrance, 19 bus stands, three glass enclosed waiting areas, electronic information boards and safety and security features including CCTV and help-points.
The development includes a new bolted glass footbridge linking the city and the train and bus stations.
The footbridge was designed, manufactured and installed by Dortech – with each sheet of glass individually designed to incorporate unique, colourful, screen-printed artwork to complement the new interchange.
In total, Dortech designed, manufacture and installed almost 5,000sq metres of glazing products such as curtain walling, entrance doors, bolted glass entrance screens, glass canopies, bolted vertical art glass and bespoke flashings.Š
Dortech chairman Steve Sutherland said: “The past 18 months have presented challenging marketing conditions for our sector as a whole.
“The future continues to look difficult with the significant withdrawal in public sector spending and anticipated lag time before the commercial sector begins to pick up steam.
“However, Dortech has succeeded in maintaining its turnover and now carries a strong forward order book with work already secured well into the first quarter of next calendar year.”
Said Mr Sutherland: “We remain grounded in respect to our outlook for 2012.
“However, we have secured some exciting new projects in respect to scale and complexity and our enquiry levels are at record highs.
“Initial indications suggest it could be a record year for turnover and profitability.”
Dortech, formed in 1993, has a turnover exceeding £11.5m and production capacity of £1.25m a month.
The firm is a key supplier to major UK contractors, including Balfour Beatty, BAM, Wates Construction and Interserve.
Other schemes undertaken by Dortech include commercial developments at St Mary’s Gate in Sheffield and Broadgate, Leeds; a mixed use development in Westgate, Wakefield; and work at Park Lane College, Keighley.
Further afield it has worked on residential developments in Liverpool; educational schemes at Glyndwr University in Wrexham; and on schools and colleges in Stockport, Wigan, Swindon and Sunderland.
