ENGINEERING
Growth – Katmex finance director Lee Cranston says the firm has seen volumes pick up since an initial dip amid the Covid outbreak .
MADE OF METTLE
WORDS : IAN WILLIS PICTURES : TOM BANKS
Steel firm Katmex thriving again after weathering Covid storm
A
Tees firm producing multiprocessed steel components is staying one step ahead on the roadmap after successfully navigating its way through the Covid pandemic .
The business came through the global financial collapse of 2008-09 , and found itself having to deal with another worldwide crisis when lockdown came into force last spring .
But with plans in place for a return to normal sooner rather than later , Katmex has weathered the storm well and a recruitment drive highlights the fact the business is once again booming .
Katmex finance and commercial director Lee Cranston said : “ It has been a tough 12 months for everyone , but volumes have really picked up for us since October , and we ’ re at the point now where , in all honesty , we did not envisage ourselves being until later this year .
“ We stopped production at both our sites in April last year because our customers had ceased their manufacturing .
“ Prior to and during our closure we stayed up-to-date with the guidelines and regulations published by the government . Our number one priority during this time was keeping our employees safe and informed of the situation , which was changing all the time .
“ A reduced workforce returned to work in May , and we gradually increased numbers in line with our customers
52 | Tees Business
Work – Katmex ’ s 20,000sq ft HQ in Norton has a capacity to process 2,000 tonnes of steel a month . commencing manufacturing operations once again . A return to work induction as well as further social distancing measures , such as staggered shift start times and breaks , were introduced to ensure our workplace was Covid secure .
“ While dealing with the situation we were faced with , as a management team we also wanted to focus on the future of the business after coronavirus , and with that came a restructure of our organisation .”
The main operational base for the company is at a 20,000 sq ft HQ in Norton with a capacity to process 2,000 tonnes of steel each month , with a further 500-tonne capacity at an additional site in Seaham , County Durham .
More than £ 3.5m has been invested in recent years in cutting-edge equipment , ensuring that customers of all sizes have their orders completed in-house to the highest specification .
Core business for Katmex is centred around the supply of components to manufacturers of construction machinery such as dump trucks , forklifts , excavators and cranes and as well as maintaining a successful relationship with
Komatsu since day one , the business also lists the likes of Caterpillar and JCB in an eye-catching order book .
But when the construction sector was effectively put on hold during lockdown , it is easy to see how Katmex was affected .
“ It has been an uncertain time , but we ’ ve come through it and we ’ re looking to expand now with around 15 new roles to fill ,” added Lee .
“ We are looking to increase the headcount in the coming weeks to around 180 across both sites , and there are positions for CNC machinists , fabricator / welders and CNC plasma operators .
“ Experienced applicants would be welcomed , but we are also developing our own in-house trainee development plan with support from outside training organisations so there is a genuine chance of progression for both young applicants and those looking for a career in manufacturing within the area .”
For more information on Katmex and the career opportunities on offer , visit katmex . co . uk / careers