FEATURE
WORDS : PAUL FRASER PICTURES : TOM BANKS
Investing in people and business
Katmex outlines strategy for the future
Evolving – Katmex MD Lee Cranston and chairman David Mitchell
Times are changing at Teesside ’ s Katmex site , where there has been a changing of the guard as well as approach after almost 13 years under the leadership of David Mitchell .
Even though David still owns the business he acquired in 2010 and still has a significant say in major decisions from a chairman ’ s role , he is looking for others to take the company into an exciting era after formalising a new senior management team .
Since September , Lee Cranston has taken over the managerial reins as managing director of the precision fabrication and steel plate processing organisation , and he is spearheading a strategy to invest in people as well as the business .
While Katmex will spend heavily on new machinery , the installation of a new factory roof and exterior cladding on its 25,000 sq m base , it has also completed its own training room and is finalising a training production cell on the shop floor .
Katmex wants to develop talent and make sure employees don ’ t want to leave .
Lee said : “ We are developing people to move the business forward and are looking at projects that will show to our employees and to prospective employees that we are investing in the business and securing its future .”
The roof installation will start before the end of the year without the need to halt production – a vital factor given the Stockton HQ processes up to 2,000 tonnes of steel each month .
That is the first significant challenge Katmex ’ s new management team has to oversee and part of a grander plan to further enhance an already profitable organisation which is a preferred supplier for Komatsu in the UK and Germany .
It also supplies fabricated components and profiled parts to the likes of JCB and
Caterpillar , as well as smaller Teesside businesses .
And while keeping customers happy , the over-arching focus is on employees – developing people and skills alongside increased revenue and turnover .
As Lee sat in the boardroom with David , it was clear the vision of Katmex ’ s proud owner is now for the management team to take the company forward .
David , who bought Katmex from Katsushiro Matex in 2010 , having worked
62 | Tees Business