Glassworks Hounsell marks 125th anniversary with expansion

BLACK Country engineering firm Glassworks Hounsell has marked its 125th anniversary with an impressive set of results and outlined plans for expansion.

The Halesowen firm, which has seen turnover grow more than 50% on 2011/12, specialises in precision engineering.

To meet the growing demand for its services the firm has invested in a new factory unit.

The extra capacity will accommodate a new YMT146 CNC machine, which will enable the firm to improve productivity. It is also combining this with investment in a bespoke factory management system to allow real time data capture and analysis to further improve efficiency.

William Brinkman, commercial director, said: “There has been considerable investment in new facilities with the intention of taking on more business and expanding further. We’re investing to expand and we’re expecting next year to be a big year for us.”

Despite the recession, the firm said demand for its services remain strong.

“We’ve always run a very tight ship. We’re now in a position to push on without being beholden to the banks, which perhaps some smaller firms will be,” added Mr Brinkman.

“We continue to adhere to very traditional values, which we’ve always upheld by trying to provide a good and valued service. This enables customers to trust us to deliver on what we say we’re going to do. As a result our business is growing.”

Glassworks Hounsell dates its roots back to 1887 when John Hounsell founded Hounsell Engineering Ltd. That company later merged with Glassworks Equipment Ltd at the turn of the millennium to establish the business in its current form.

Mr Brinkman, whose father joined Hounsell Engineering 50 years ago, said he expected the firm to mark the milestone later in the year.

“We’ll be exhibiting at the Glasstec trade fair in Dusseldorf at the end of October. It’s a big glass show to be involved with so we’ll probably base something around that,” he said.