Lander bounces back from recession

A BIRMINGHAM manufacturer has bounced back from the recession in the car industry to secure a 22% increase in turnover and an 11% increase in its workforce.

Automotive components supplier Lander Automotive is now on track to post a £28m turnover this year, an increase of £4.8m over 2009, while it has also added 27 new employees to its payroll.
 
The engineering company’s performance has just won it a Dunn & Bradstreet Rating 1 Status, for this financial feat. Just 15% of UK companies achieve this accolade, widely regarded as the leading indicator of a company’s financial strength.

Lander said the move confirmed it had the highest level of creditworthiness and minimum risk of failure.
 
The company, which was founded in 1877, and still features some fourth generation family members in its management team, is based at Woodgate Business Park. It employs 280 people.
 
Originally a wire goods manufacturer, Lander has diversified over the years but in 1991 began to focus wholly on the automotive sector.
 
Now a supplier of fabricated structures and tubular assemblies, its products include metal seating structures; fluid and cooling system pipes; airbag pipes and canisters, plus instrument panel car-cross beams and chassis components. Its products are supplied to Nissan, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen and GM.

Lander is now poised to invest £2m in the latest technology at its Birmingham manufacturing base, in support of business already won. The new investment will also improve the company’s ability to produce shorter product runs and to address the needs of the emerging electric and hybrid/dual fuel vehicle market.
 
Steve Bailey, sales director at Lander, said: “The automotive sector has been hard-hit during the recession but our commitment to employee development, lean manufacturing techniques, strategic procurement and excellent customer support has paid off.
 
“We work in a highly competitive market where every order is hard won. We have a formula that works for our customers, whether applied to high or low volume program demands.
 
“We fully intend to become the supplier of choice for our customers in the product areas in which we excel and are excited at what lies ahead as we drive towards our strategic goals.”