Record revenues for engineering firm after export success
Tadcaster-based Lambert Engineering has seen record turnover last year,.
Turnover rose to £22.6m, and 80% of equipment is now being exported to customers in Europe, North and South America and the rest of the world.
It said that the growing digital skill base in the North as well as the Internet of Things had helped grow its business, providing automation systems, equipment engineering and precision components.
It expects further growth in 2017 and is investing £6.6m in automation. The project is in production set-up phase and will start to be delivered later this year and into 2018.
Lambert was founded in 1973 by Chris Lambert and Peter Wainman, initially manufacturing machine parts for the printing industry. It has now expanded to cover multiple areas and employs 180 staff.
Mike Lewis, associate sales director at Lambert said: “2016 was all about investment in our people and new technologies that will continue to give us a competitive advantage over our rivals…the good news is it appears to be a formula that is working, with more than £4m of new sales already delivered in the first quarter of 2017.
“However, you can’t stand still in what we do and similar levels of investment have been directed into ensuring we are at the forefront of cloud-based automation and cyber physical connectivity.”
He continued: “The consumers desire to personalise and constantly refresh their purchases is driving manufacturers to request automation solutions that are suited to provide lower batch sizes and to be configurable with zero downtime. There is also a growing demand for higher productivity that means an ever increasing need to have real time performance data in various locations.”
Lambert was chosen by the EEF to host its latest Manufacturing Connect event on exploring the 4th Industrial Revolution.
EEF Consultancy Director Martin Strutt said: “4IR is happening and the UK’s success in this global industrial transformation will hinge on manufacturers’ strategies and ambitions. 4IR goes far beyond simply investing in new technologies and techniques – this new era requires cultural shifts, new business models and the ability to adapt and innovate.
“Manufacturers are ready to do the heavy lifting, but their efforts must be supported across the sector and supply chains are backed up by Government through its new industrial strategy. If we get this approach right, then the UK can expect to be at the forefront of this global industrial wave.”
Pictured: Martin Strutt of the EEF, Warren Harvard of Festo GB, Nick Hussey from Hennik Group and Mike Lewis of Lambert Engineering
