Product innovation key for overseas success – Naylor

NAYLOR Industries is looking to treble the level of its annual exports as it keeps innovation at the forefront of its thinking.

TheBusinessDesk.com reported yesterday how the family-run company’s management, including chief executive Edward Naylor, completed a deal to take over the running of the business.

The deal has provided an exit for South Yorkshire Investment Fund, through its fund manager YFM Equity Partners, and sees HSBC provide the building materials manufacturer with new finance facilities.

Speaking to TheBusinessDesk.com, Mr Naylor, the fourth generation of the family to run the business, based in Cawthorne, South Yorkshire, said the tie-up with HSBC would enable the company to access the lucrative South East Asian market.

“At present exports account for around £3m a year of turnover,” he said. “We’re looking to double or treble that over the next few years.”

Mr Naylor, who took over the running of the business following the death of his father in 1993, said many overseas markets offered great opportunities.

The diversification of the product range offered by Naylor Industries gives the company the chance to win work in countries that require infrastructure, such as modern sewerage systems.
 
The company can trace its history back to 1890 when the great grandfather of Mr Naylor built a railway viaduct in Yorkshire.

The discovery of a rich seam of clay led to the formation of a clay brick and pipe factory, which has evolved into a modern UK manufacturer with a turnover in excess of £30m employinh 220 staff with factories in South and West Yorkshire, Fife and the West Midlands.

Over the last 10 years the company has invested £18m on improving productivity and launching new products, including pipes that can be laid without the need to carry out major digging work.

It also provides lintels, retaining wall and bollards, as well as agricultural products.

Naylor presently sells into 15 European countries but also has a network of 20 licensed distributors in areas including Australasia and Africa.

The company also has a flowerpot business which Mr Naylor said is performing well because people are investing in their gardens rather than going on holiday.

“Launching new products is vital,” he said. “The worst scenario is that you stand still and then you’re there to be shot at.”