Serving the Teesside Business Community | 41
SETTING
THE BAR
HIGH
Tees hydraulics firm
IMH set for take-off
By Dave Allan
T
ees-based hydraulics firm Industrial
& Marine Hydraulics (IMH) is set for
expansion as it bounces back from
a period of uncertainty to build on a
series of impressive contract wins.
The long-established firm’s ambitious
new leadership team aim to make the family
business the North East’s supplier of choice
for hydraulic engineering solutions.
But one thing they insist will always remain
is a steadfast commitment to the values that
saw them come through the darkest hour in
the firm’s history.
Chairman Paul Griffiths, the man who
started IMH from his own home nearly
35 years ago, is passing on the baton to a
vibrant new management team.
Paul is taking a backseat, safe in the
knowledge that his son James is now at the
helm alongside general manager Ian Duffew
and other members of a newly formed senior
management team.
Over more than three decades IMH
steadily built a reputation for excellence in
the field of hydraulics, working on a number
of prestigious projects without ever shouting
from the rooftops about either its extensive
capabilities or impressive successes.
Then came the double whammy of the
oil and gas sector’s economic downturn
combined with the impact on suppliers and
customers when Teesside’s iconic steel
industry continued to struggle.
“It was an incredibly tough period,” reflects
Paul. “We hit the buffers, but we had an
emotional investment in this business and it
was too good to let go. As well as this, we
felt responsible for our loyal employees who
we refused to let down.
“Ultimately, our values got us through.
Perhaps the most important of those is
integrity – we’ve always delivered on our
promises, treating our customers and
suppliers with absolute respect.
“That’s why they were fantastic with us
when we needed their support. With their
help, we came through a very difficult trading
period and learned that we also have very
understanding employees who voluntarily
took a cut in their working hours. We will
never forget that they did that for us.”
For Ian and the senior management team,
it’s now all about leading IMH in to a brighter
future, and the business is set for take-off.
He explains: “We’re probably one of
Teesside’s best kept engineering secrets –
but this is changing as clients begin to realise
our capabilities.
IMH founder Paul Griffiths (front) with his son James (right) and Ian Duffew.
“We’re not the biggest, nor are we aiming to be,
but we do want to be the best.”
“We’ve set up a platform to grow and
expand our business portfolio. We’ve always
had good infrastructure, power generation
and marine projects, but we’re now moving
into transport – including the automotive and
rail industries – while the metals industry is
picking up again too.”
The past 12 months has seen IMH bidding
on – and securing – far bigger projects than
they’ve ever previously taken on.
Noteworthy contract wins include an
offshore renewables solution in Aberdeen, a
flood defence system in Devon and several
significant nuclear projects.
But this is just the start. Plans include:
• A search to find a bigger, more efficient
Teesside base where the firm can
develop its centre of excellence.
• A recruitment drive that will see the
current IMH workforce of 24 increase
by as much as 50%.
• The set-up of a second engineering
base in a new location.
• Securing major contracts that will see
turnover more than double.
“We’re excited about the future,” says
James. “We’re not the biggest, nor are we
aiming to be, but we do want to be the
best.”
Ian adds: “We have large company
capabilities with small company agility.
We pride ourselves on being flexible and
responsive.
“We’re investing in sales and marketing,
we’re investing in our people, and we’re
giving a reliable, long-established local firm
a new commercial focus that will allow us to
continuously reinvest in a business we love
to fire us to another level. The potential is
huge!”