Serving the Teesside Business Community | 43
By Adam Steel
Stockton Machine
Company excel in high-
tech machining and
engineering solutions.
21ST CENTURY
ENGINEERING
S
SMC looking to future after machining investments
tockton Machine Company is back
amongst the big numbers - thanks
to the expertise of its highly-trained
staff and continued investment in the
latest technology.
Specialising in bespoke, rapid turnaround
engineering solutions, the Billingham-based
firm works within the offshore, renewables,
oil and gas and food processing sectors.
Turnover exceeded £1.1 million in 2014
but dipped below seven figures due to the
well-documented downturn in the oil and
gas sector combined with the decline of
steelmaking in the region.
Now things are firmly on the up again after
the recent purchase of a new four-axis CNC
vertical machining centre, which followed the
acquisition of an even higher-tech five-axis
version a year ago, enabling SMC to sub-
contract and attract new business.
SMC’s diverse portfolio has seen their
work bound for far-flung places such as Brazil
and even the Antarctic, as well as to many
local clients across Teesside and the wider
North East.
Mark Smith, the firm’s managing director,
reflects: “A few years ago we were flying,
but over the last two years we’ve had five
businesses go bust on us. In the 30 years
prior to that we could count on one hand the
number that had gone under.
“We had to batten down the hatches
but managed to maintain all of our staff
and, as things started to pick up, we
started investing in new machinery. The
five-axis machine has proven to be a great
springboard for us.
"Now we’ve got the latest technology
and new machines which bring faster
cycle times, higher accuracy and greater
repeatability.
“It’s been a year of hard graft, but it has
heralded results.
"If we can repeat the year that we’ve just
had then we’ll have not only weathered the
storm but will have come out the other side
with newer machinery and a greater skillset.”
Now in its 46th year, SMC
prides itself on a willingness
to turn around urgent jobs in
double-quick time.
“We’ve always been a
company that has taken on
the jobs that our competitors
just wouldn’t touch due
to short lead-times,” Mark
explains. “We have a can-do
attitude and a good team
of dedicated, flexible guys
Machine man: MD Mark Smith.
here."
That flexible workforce is
15-strong and operates out
of a compact but constantly-
buzzing base on Cowpen
Bewley Industrial Estate.
“Some lads have been
with us for over 30 years,”
says Mark. “And I don’t have
a high turnover of staff,
which speaks for itself.
“It’s not a glamorous job
Apprentice Rob Easby
with one of SMC’S
and we’re not in glamorous
machining centres.
surroundings, but what
matters is the technology,
the expertise and the experience of our
“The fact that a little factory in Teesside
dedicated staff.
can be shipping out goods around the
“Inside our modest building we’ve got
world is fantastic and I’m proud of all that’s
some impressive kit and a lot of expertise.
associated with that."
We’d invite our clients and potential
And he is excited about what the future
customers to come and take a look and see
holds, with 2018 promising to be an exciting
the engineering DNA that we’ve got coursing
12 months.
through our veins.”
“There appears to be a bit of buoyancy in
Mark is proud to give opportunities to
and around the North East for next year,” he
apprentices such as Rob Easby, who is now
adds.
honing and developing his skills on the new
“With the government announcing they
machines.
are going to invest a significant amount
Whilst being proud of his company and
of money into developing the old SSI site,
workers, Mark gets immense satisfaction out I’m hopeful that’s going to attract further
of helping to keep Teesside on the business
investment and then things can start building
map.
from there. There’s every reason to be
“I'm a born and bred Teessider,” he says
positive."
with passion. “I get annoyed when people
For more details on SMC’s capabilities,
knock the area. There’s a lot of good people
visit www.stocktonmachine.co.uk or
and with good skillsets in the region.
email stocktonmachine.co.uk