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Big plans – Contracts engineer Danny Aftab and CNC machinist Morris Bell .
Engineering firm celebrates historic £ 3m order book
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Tees engineering firm is celebrating a record-breaking year after a raft of contract wins .
Tees Components , in East Cleveland , has secured several large contracts and hit an all-time order book “ high ” of more than £ 3m .
Eight new jobs have been created at the firm , which has been family owned and run since 1963 and will next year reach its 60th year of operation .
The last two years saw challenges for the facility , which specialises in manufacturing prototypes and new product development for clients , as projects were put on hold .
However , showing long-term confidence in its services , colleagues and clients , the company made no redundancies and invested in new plant and a significant new extension to its facilities .
The contracts include £ 1.75m in new orders in the second quarter alone , and almost 50 per cent of its work will be exported .
The company , based in North Skelton , was this year nominated as a Department for International Trade ( DIT ) Northern Powerhouse ( NPH ) Export Champion , in recognition of its consistent direct export sales and promotion of British engineering excellence overseas .
Already well-established in the United States , Saudi Arabia , South Korea and throughout Europe , the company has recently expanded into Iceland as a new market .
Exciting new projects will take the firm well into 2023 across a number of sectors , including defence and renewable energy .
Further investment will be made in the
Precision – Quality inspector Lee Bennison checks a component on the shop floor at Tees Components .
firm ’ s site , with new plant and machinery , and welfare facilities .
Managing director Sharon Lane – a former Tees Businesswoman of the Year - said : “ I ’ m delighted to see the hard work pay off for our team , and to see our clients show this confidence in us .
“ More than anything we are excited to embark on these contracts – they are a brilliant blend of projects .
“ We have fascinating new products which we ’ re excited about , we have critical British infrastructure projects , and we ’ re involved in essential climate research work .
“ We are so fortunate to be able to play our part . What we do genuinely matters – and that is why we enjoy what we do .”
The new contracts have resulted in the creation of eight jobs , from machine shop engineers to admin roles , at apprentice and trainee level through to experienced and qualified people . A recruitment campaign will be launched in the coming weeks .
The orders have also given confidence for further investment – having already made a £ 750,000 outlay in new
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURES : STUART BOULTON
machinery , office space , welfare facilities and landscaped outdoor space to accommodate growth , the board has now committed to a further £ 1.7m in machine tool upgrades and new plant and equipment , leading to further jobs being created in 2023 .
The recent contract wins include £ 750,000 in marine defence and £ 500,000 in new nuclear installations . These are in addition to large contracts for renewable energy including wind and hydro .
It ’ s all hugely encouraging for a firm which , since taking over the site of an iconic iron mine in 1963 , has adapted and evolved to become one of the country ’ s most comprehensive heavy machining facilities .
The six-acre site can accommodate anything from multi-million-pound defence orders to quick turnaround local projects .
MD Sharon Lane recently signed up as an organiser and sponsor of major supply chain networking organisation Tees Engineering Network . A governor at Middlesbrough College , she also chairs the NE advisory board for MAKE UK , the manufacturers ’ organisation , and works to ensure the manufacturing sector is effectively represented to government .
Reflecting on how the business coped over the past two years , she told Tees Business : “ The main thing is that everyone at Tees came through the pandemic with their health and their jobs intact . We ’ ve been able to take opportunities for improving our business and our team ’ s come out stronger .
“ Now it ’ s about looking forward – and we have everything to look forward to .”
88 | Tees Business