17 March 2010
Laser Process starting to see upturn after worst year on record
Cannock-based metal cutter, Laser Process, is celebrating 20 years in business, this year, after setting up in 1990. Managing director David Lindsey (pictured) says that the last 12 months have been the worst on record for the firm, but he remains optimistic about a long term turnaround.
The former president of Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a founder member of the Association of Industrial Laser Users, revealed the first signs of an actual upturn in business are now starting to be seen.
2009 saw a more than 40 per cent fall in sales, at its worst, but the start of this year has brought signs of better things to come.
Conditions first showed signs of improvement in October and orders have very gradually picked up with trade in January swinging back in to the black, for the first time in a year, and the trend continuing in February.
"There are a host of reasons for the improvement. One is stock levels, firms simply ran down their stock levels at the beginning of the recession and they've got to a point now where they simply have to re-order, but they are holding reduced stocks compared to before the recession."
"Jobs that were outsourced to China and Eastern Europe are coming back because of increasing labour rates, the high cost of transport, problems in assuring quality and the lack of protection of intellectual property rights in some countries, which makes copying products easier," says Mr Lindsey.
Laser Process is one of the top five firms in the UK in its field, specialising in precision cutting of all types of metal for a wide range of engineering applications. The business employs 36 staff and has a multi-million pound turnover.
Author
Michael Richards
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