SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2022 NANTMETALLISATIONLORDCOMBUSTION

Bilston-basedNantLimited is aspecialistinwater safety services andproducts

Clientsinclude leading care home groups, as well as commercialpremises forwell-knownbrandsincludingThe GymGroup, theCafeRouge restaurant groupand luxury hotel chainHarbour Hotels

Thecompany wasformed in 1994 to providetop qualityservice in Legionella controland employs 45 with itsofficesatCrescent House,Broad Street.

Lesters

Followingamanagement

buyoutNant’sleadership team is transforming atraditional watersafetycompany into an outwardlooking, progressive company. Demand forNant’sexpertise hasgrown as site managers adapt to changes in commercialoccupancy duetoCovid restrictions, whichhas increasedthe risksoflegionellaspreadinginunder usedpremises Despite thechallenges of thepandemicthe management teamlaunchedagas department

Metallisation,which is in its100th year,manufacturesand supplies thermal sprayequipment andsolutions.

Thecompany in PeartreeLane, Dudley,which employs 45,now exports 75 percentofits output to more than 60 countries.

Theactualprocess of thermalspray wasinvented in 1909,but Metallisation constantly develops theproductand technology to create solutionsthat expand thebenefits to its customers

Metallisation invests around £250,000 peryear in research anddevelopment andhas 12 percent of itsfull time stafffocusedpurelyonR&D with many otherstaff working in conjunction with thedepartment to bringdevelopmentstofruition.

Theteamworkonmany projects to improve theefficiency andeffectivenessof theproductsand optimise them forcustomers to use in awidevariety of applicationsacrossmanydifferent industries

Lord CombustionServices is celebratingits 40thanniversary this year

Thegrowing commercial heatingspecialistsnow servemorethan1,000 customers across theregion from itsbaseatSenator House,DudleyRoadEast, Oldbury

Lord,which employs45, is ledbymanagingdirector Stuart Smith, whocelebrated hisown 20thanniversary with thebusiness last month

It wasoriginallyamechanical contractor spe- cialising in theservice and commissioning of gasand oil-firedequipment. Today thecompany hasdiversified to deliver allaspects of mechanical andelectricalbuildingservices. Lord serves landmark buildings as well as numerous NHS sites, schoolsand other public buildings.

Lord’s recent commercial heatingand hot water projectsall featurethe latest in energy efficiency,such as workfor international cricket venue Edgbaston Stadium.

Lestersisinanideal positionto become oneofthe Black Country andStaffordshire’sfastest-growing manufacturers.

Astrategic expansionplan–focusedoninvestmentintechnology, peopleand complementaryacquisition –will seeitmovetowards a£25 million turnover by 2024, which will create afurther 30 newpositions.

Thecompany in MountRoad, Burntwood, whichformedin1983, currentlyemploys 60

It specialises in bigbox packaging, providingmillionsofcorrugated boxes, largeformatpackaging andheavy-dutycases forthe aerospace,automotive,bikemanufacturing,mailorder andthird-party logisticsindustries.

Thelast12monthshavebeen transformationalfor Lesterswhich hasbeenboosted by asignificant surgeinonline shopping

It hasseensales soar by 120per cent andhas takenon15new staff.

Thegrowthhas been driven by investmentinskillsand,importantly,a£7 million investment programmethathas resulted in theinstallationofa new TCYJumbo Casemaker(the firstofits type to be operationalinthe UK)and theimpending arrivalofa TCYN63colourcasemaker machine

These acquisitionshavehelpedthe companyreduceleadtimes andincrease capacityfroma combined 180boxesper minutetoover 360–essential if it is goingtomeetplanned expansiontargets

Lestersalso hassome of themostknowledgeablepackagingprofessionals in theindustry, with more than 100years’combinedexperience.

It hasalso invested heavilytocreateacustomerservicesteamthatisdedicated to making sure it keepsclients informed of theirorder anddelivery status.Thisisreinforcedbyareal-time data enterprise programmeonthe shopfloor.

Thefamilybusinesshas deep roots in Burntwoodand many of itsteam membershavebeenwithLesters formanyyears

It takesteamdevelopmentseriously andworkclosely with stafftomake sure they areconstantlybeing challenged in theirroles