Member Article

North Yorkshire manufacturer wins £1m contract

A North Yorkshire-based welding machine manufacturer has seen demand for its products soar worldwide following a £1m contract win and a move into bigger premises.

Family-run Lamba Welding Systems has been based on the Gallowfields Trading Estate in Richmond for 25 years and the company specialises in the supply, repair and service of resistance welding machinery.

The firm supplies its machinery to businesses which produce temporary fencing across the world, which is then used in prestigious global sporting and entertainment events, such as The London Olympics.

Now, after winning a £1m contract with a leading North-East industrial flooring manufacturer, which supplies to the oil, gas and petro-chemical industries, Lamba has moved into new premises to meet growing demand for its products.

The premises are still on the Gallowfields Estate but are more than five times bigger than their previous home which has increased from 3,500 sq ft to 20,000 sq ft.

The business is led by Brian and Julie Bates, with the support of commercial director, John Horn. The trio have worked with accountants and business advisers Clive Owen & Co LLP in Darlington on the company’s growth strategy.

Neville Baldry, a partner with Clive Owen & Co, helped the firm secure a £30,000 grant from the bank NatWest’s Regional Growth Fund programme and submitted a successful claim for research and development tax credits. Clive Owen also prepared detailed forecasts and projections to support the project.

Neville said it had been a pleasure to work with Brian and his team.

“It’s great news about the new contract win and this just underpins the quality of work they are producing,” he said.

“In recent years there have been very few opportunities for businesses in North Yorkshire to access grant funding of this type, so we’re delighted to secure this assistance for Lamba. We wish them well for the future.”

Brian Bates, managing director of Lamba Welding Systems, said: “We’re delighted to be operational in our new building. The move has been a major step for us, but essential for our business development.

“The support we have received from our accountants Clive Owen & Co and our bank NatWest has been excellent. Their help and expertise has meant we had funding for the project and we have made other major savings based on the strategic advice we received.

“Working with a good team is vital and the smooth outcome is largely due to the professional guidance we have received.”

David Lander, senior relationship manager with NatWest, based in Stockton, who co-ordinated the bank’s involvement with the project said: “We’re happy to support Lamba Welding Systems and its continued growth and development.

“The company has shown a strong commitment to the region and we wish them much success.”

The growth of the business over the last year follows the acquisition of the Microwelder ™ business from Rymer Engineering, in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

A Microwelder ™ is a much smaller machine than Lamba produced previously and a more general product aimed at businesses operating in a smaller product range, such as spring or wire product manufacturers.

The business began with four people in 1988 and 960 sq ft and, following expansion in 1995 and continued success, it now employs 16 staff.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .