Manrochem Ltd

A company in Huddersfield has forged a name for itself designing, building and managing process systems for manufacturers around the world.

International process engineering specialist Manrochem Ltd has enjoyed signal success since its formation in 1990 – and has been particularly active this year following a management buyout in February.

The management team comprising Edward Jennings, business director; David Wakefield, technical director; and Andrew Pearson, engineering director, have been collectively involved in Manrochem Limited for over 30 years.

Originally based in Elland, the company moved to its current location at New North Road in 1995. Today, it employs 14 people in the UK and also has a subsidiary company in Chennai in India.

With skills based in process engineering, the business delivers specialist design, build and commission projects across the chemical, pharmaceutical, food and allied industries and boasts a blue-chip client base including companies such as Syngenta, Lubrizol, Glaxo Smith Kline, 3M Healthcare, Rhodia UK Limited, Thornton & Ross, Finlay and Deltech.

Mr Jennings said the company had also increased staff, turnover and profits during the course of this year and had also provided work experience places for students from universities, colleges and schools.

The firm had landed major contracts with the Airbus factory at Broughton and Rolls-Royce in Derby as well as carrying out design work for a major tea producing facility overseas.

He said: “Our specialism is early stage definition – identifying and quantifying future options from a single process to an integrated complex.

“Manrochem offers a qualified team of multi-disciplinary, multi-tasking individuals. Our engineers are innovative and will seek to add value to a client’s project. The value added by our engineers and the success of this approach is evidenced by our long-term relationship with many of our clients.”

Said Mr Jennings: “Making it Possible is the Manrochem strapline and it sums up exactly what we are all about.”

He said: “Due to the wealth of academic qualifications and practical experience within our business, we are in the unique position to undertake both standard and also more diverse process solutions.

“Manrochem actively engages in solving problems that our competitors shy away from and we work with and give advice to a plethora of UK and international companies.”

Targets for the year ahead include further increasing turnover, staffing and client numbers, achieving ISO 9001 accreditation, investing and upgrading IT and draughting facilities – and increasing the firm’s charity budget.

Said Mr Jennings: “We aim to become bigger, better and get the Manrochem name out to a wider market.”

The Horizon Group

All the signs are positive for one Colne Valley manufacturing firm.

Milnsbridge-based Horizon Group has successfully progressed from its origins in 1980 as a reprographics company to a diversified business producing trade signs; furniture, fittings and equipment for the education sector; products for the transport industry; as well as metalworking and powder coating services.

Operations director Ross Ball said; “Since 1994, we have manufactured and supplied a wide variety of signage on a regional, national and international level and today we sit as one of the UK’s largest suppliers of bespoke signage to the trade.

“As our scope of skills diversified, the Horizon group of companies was established, offering a wide range of signage, display, storage, fabrication and powder coating services to the trade, educational, public, transport and private sectors.”

He said: “The group has evolved into a solutions provider through the utilisation of our creative and skilled workforce. Our innovative, no-nonsense approach is evident through the rapid development of high value relationships with multi-million pound contractors while continuing to work with our client base of smaller businesses.

“The Horizon Group delivers a robust range of products and services to a varied client base while maintaining the nimble adaptability of a modern SME.”

The company has devoted time and effort to training and development, which has seen several of its 35 employees gain recognised health and safety qualifications as well as construction sector accreditation.

Among key contract wins, Horizon has continued to secure work with property and infrastructure specialist Lend Lease as well as providing fittings for the custody suites at police stations in Leeds and Wakefield on behalf of Interserve. It has also provided timetable cases for public transport body Centro.

Horizon has increased turnover by 61% in the past 12 months and has doubled its workforce.

In a market facing increased competition from abroad, the company has developed unique products such as its Talking Sign – a system which uses MP3 audio files to give out informational messages. The system, developed with a Yorkshire-based technology company meets the need for a battery or solar-powered signage system that can be activated by pushing a button or by motion sensor.

The system can be used by public transport providers to give out passenger information and is also being used to relay health and safety messages in the workplace.

Over the next 12 months, the firm will be looking to expand its workforce further and further develop products such as the Talking Sign, bespoke benches, a Solar Bus Stop and changing room benches.

Said Ross: “To aid our growth, we are in the process of doubling our office space and are looking to expand the engineering and fabricating departments further.”

North Fire Plc

Customer care is the focus of a firm supplying vital fire-fighting equipment across the UK.

North Fire Plc, based at Brockholes, has grown in reputation since starting out as a “one-man band” in 2008 to now employing eight staff delivering one of the strongest product ranges available in the fire service supplier industry.

The firm was created from a standing start by managing director Oliver North, who had formerly served in the Royal Engineers.

After winning a regional business award in 2011, Oliver met Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy, who was so impressed with North Fire and its potential that he became chairman of the business and took a one-third stake.

In the two years since then, they have proved a formidable team as the company continues to flourish.

In the past 12 months, North Fire has secured a deal to supply thermal imaging equipment to UK fire and service services and the police – with clients as far afield as Cornwall and Inverness agreeing six-figure deals. It has also completed delivery of £1.6m of turntable ladders to Avon Fire Service, which will be serviced annually in Huddersfield.

Said Oliver: “North Fire is a company completely focused on customer care and satisfaction with a dedicated, specifically trained team of service engineers, technicians, stores and administrative staff headed up by an operations manager.”

He said: “North Fire is renowned for the highest quality of service and quick response times. Ninety per cent of the product range has been developed by North Fire specifically for the UK fire and rescue market, which have gone on to become ‘world beaters’ and clear market leaders..

Oliver said the company had an “aggressive” growth strategy supported by Austrian partner Rosenbauer International, which aims to boost turnover and lead to the creation of more than 15 new jobs. The company said structured growth would see new product launches, long-term order books filled and quick turnaround of deliveries.

And North Fire’s “armoury” is set to be augmented with the completion of a new deal now being finalised with Rosenbauer. Oliver said the development, which is still under wraps, would strengthen North Fire’s status and bring a Huddersfield-based “manufacturing element” to the company.