Member Article

South Shields manufacturer triples its turnover in just twelve months

The growth in the UK offshore wind market has helped Complete Fabrication Services (CFS) triple its turnover in just twelves months.

CFS, which has been supported by the GROW:OffshoreWind programme delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), has seen sales rocket from £1.1m in mid 2013 to an anticipated £3.5m haul by the end of this year, creating an additional ten jobs in the process.

The firm is now turning its attention to creating a centralised 10,000 sq ft factory, which will give it the necessary capacity to grow and take on even bigger fabrication structures.

The firm is making a £1 million investment in the factory thanks to a £300,000+ grant from GROW:OffshoreWind’s Flexible Enabling Funding.

Darren Carlisle, managing director of CFS said: “A significant amount of our work is bespoke and this suits companies supplying or working in the offshore wind sector,”

“Currently we are based over three units and need to bring it all together in one dedicated facility to increase our capacity and productivity. The good news is we’ve found the ideal location and are currently in legal discussions with view to making the move in September.”

Complete Fabrication Services, which currently employs 26 people, has received extensive support from MAS, receiving strategic and financial assistance on managing growth and improving processes.

The latest help has seen Manufacturing Advisors Alan Whittaker and Chris Hylton work with the management team on preparing an application for Flexible Enabling Funding from the GROW:OffshoreWind programme.

Darren, who bought the business nine years ago as a one-man operation, said: “The £300,000 grant is going to be absolutely critical for us and is speeding up the relocation by at least six months…if not longer,

“Using experts like Alan and Chris made it a painless process and left us free to concentrate on important day-to-day activities that keep our business moving forward.”

He continued: “We’ll need to spend £1m to make the move and then ensure new machinery is installed and the factory layout is fit for purpose, offering us the most efficient production lines.

“When we are in the new place we should be able to take care of anything from a small £50 bracket to projects such as the £450,000 order for frames that host Remote Operated Vehicles for checking pipelines and underwater systems.”

For further information, please visit www.compfabs.co.uk or contact 0191 489 7156. For details on MAS: www.mymas.org and GROW:OffshoreWInd: www.growoffshorewind.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .