Powdertech Group

Source: Manufacturing Digital

Date :08/07/2008 10:11:58

A clear focus

Written by Ian Armitage and Produced by Rahim Ali

The Powdertech Group has a clear aim: provide high quality powder coatings and deliver solutions that meet individual needs. Sounds simple enough, but more often than not businesses find the simple things hardest to do. Not Powdertech.

Established over twenty years ago, Powdertech is able to provide solutions for all projects from large fabrications to small components. Regardless of size, or particulars, the same skills, techniques and attention to detail are applied in every instance to ensure that clients get the quality finish they need. This gives Powdertech much appeal: “We provide both quality and flexibility to meet almost any need,” admits Richard Besant, Sales & Marketing Director.

Not surprisingly, customers are literally lining up to place an order at the moment, aware that the solutions they want are not just achievable, but affordable. The result is that Powdertech has quite a name and has had the privilege of working with many well-known blue chip companies in numerous markets: “We enable our customers, such as Jaguar, B&Q, BAA, Nokia, Local Authorities and most of the major housebuilders to compete successfully in fast changing markets,” continues Besant.

Three’s the magic number

The Powdertech Group has spent a number of years slightly restructuring the original business model and today consists of three divisions – Powdertech (Bicester) Ltd, Powdertech (Corby) Ltd and Spectrum Powdertech – based in two physical locations, Bicester and Corby. “Broadly speaking, each division is a dedicated company run by motivated managers and they focus on particular markets or product types, with a clear focus. Why? Because it helps us improve as a business, particularly in terms of the services we offer,” explains Besant. “That is our vision and our structure reflects that.”

As the oldest member of the group, Powdertech (Bicester) Ltd, based in Bicester, will have been in business for 25 years in 2009. It provides specialist finishing services of the highest quality, geared to the demands of customers. It also has many years’ experience in providing quality finishes to specialist niche markets and, rather importantly, is also a European leader in chrome-free technology.

“Customers typically work in the architectural and automotive market, and Powdertech (Bicester) Ltd offers them the latest environmentally friendly chrome-free treatments,” says Besant.

Powdertech (Corby) Ltd, based in Corby, Northamptonshire, on the other hand, was established in 1988 and is a specialist powder coating provider in the architectural galvanized steel market and architectural aluminium market. In addition the Corby business provides a unique wood effect finish that has applications in a wide range of markets.

Spectrum Powdertech, also based in Bicester, completes the Group and specialises in providing high quality coating for smaller components.

Building expertise

For many years, Powdertech has been building its expertise, market knowledge, specialist skills, technical resources and personal service with the goal of providing customers with a high quality finish.

“Our commitment to continual improvement means we will always deliver to the highest possible standards and this is supported by well established quality standards and processes,” says Besant.

An investment of over £1.5 million in a prestigious new factory unit in Bicester is certainly helping: “That investment ensures we will continue to be a major player in an increasingly competitive market,” adds Besant. “As we expand, and in order to go on meeting our customers’ changing requirements, we will continue to invest in our people, the latest technology and equipment. This investment is a signal of that intention.”

Powdertech’s new, modern factory is built to maximise efficiency; it is able to offer a comprehensive service to both the architectural and automotive markets.

“We are trying to broaden our product offering and move away from just being a powder coater to offering an unbeatable service,” he adds. “This investment is vital to that.

“We have got ambitious growth plans and we recently spent £100,000 on the roof at Corby. We are also replacing capital plant and refurbishing all of the office, laboratory and factory facilities, simply to improve the environment of the factory,” he continues. “We have extended both the Bicester and Corby sites to include more storage capacity too, so we can offer our customers more. We feel that we have got to keep on improving, offering that value for money.

“Because we are relatively small as a business, we can continue to do that. I think the future is very positive, very positive indeed.”

Exceeding expectations

Powdertech has exceeded budget by a remarkable 25 percent this year. Besant says this achievement is down to some extremely close relationships with what he calls ‘key customers’: “The powder coating industry is a very immediate industry,” he says. “You get very fast feedback on things and it is very rare that people see a long way into the future. Supply contracts are rare within the industry, so you are very much reliant on your day to day performance. You’re only as good as your last job, as they say.”

He adds: “It is a mature industry now with some big players, some medium players and some small players. We believe that we are in the medium to large sector.

“The business, generally speaking, is loosely aligned to the construction industry and customers are getting nervous. But, having said that, we have had the busiest year this year: We have exceeded budget by 25 percent and are really pleased and continuing to do that. But there are certain signs of nervousness now coming into the market.”

So why has Powdertech succeeded where some have failed? “I think it comes down to the attention we give customers and our ability to offer a flexible solution to quickly changing demands,” says Besant. “We are in good shape for the times we are living in and we can offer a range of build cost and turnaround advantages for the customer. I think that will be good for us.”

Besant believes there has been overcapacity in the market for some time, stating that although it has been “relatively buoyant over the last 12 months”, the warning signs are there.

“Because we have the flexibility we will be safe, but I think people with less flexibility and less financial stability will potentially suffer,” he says.