Piping specialist branches out with new operation

Alex Forth, left, and Mark Hartley

Piping group Special Piping Materials (SPM) has branched out with the creation of a new company, Special Metric Materials (SMM).

The new operation, based in Audenshaw, stocks metric and ISO stainless steel piping systems, and has reported a successful first quarter of trading.

It is backed by sister company SPM, a global stockholder of exotic piping, fittings and flanges which is headquartered in Dukinfield. It is the first time that it has branched out into a new sector.

SPM has an impressive 33-year history which has grown from a single office in Manchester to a global network of seven sales offices and warehouses across five continents. It was featured in last year’s Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table.

Metric piping industry specialist, Mark Hartley, is at the helm of SMM as managing director, with Les and Paul Buckley and Alex Forth from SPM in support.

Founder and CEO of Special Piping Materials and Special Metric Materials, Les Buckley, said: “SPM has always been an ambitious company and our growth over the past three decades is a testament to that.

“Despite the recent difficulties in the world, we felt like it was the right time to branch out into a new market and identified the potential within the metric and ISO stainless steel piping sector in the UK.

“Our knowledge of the exotic piping world means we were perfectly positioned to pivot into the metric world. Having already established a robust infrastructure, a skilled sales team and strong industry contacts for SMM, we are confident that we are going to make the company a success.”

Mark Hartley, said: “Having worked in the metric piping world for more than a decade, I am excited about what the future holds.

“Being an independent and family-owned company means that we can be faster, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of our clients.”

He added: “We chose to be headquartered in Manchester as it means we will be able to provide a reliable next day delivery service across the UK, which is crucial if we are to remain a vital part of the supply chain in the fast paced industries we are part of.”

SMM has a comprehensive stock of products that it is supplying to the water, food and drink, chemical, renewable energy, building services and process industries across the UK.

It is working with a network of stainless steel mills across Europe to ensure it has access to stainless steel tubular and piping products.

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