Otley campervan firm converts to Yorkshire supplier
17 July 2012
Entrepreneur Robert McCandless, a partner in Otley-based Kiravans, has developed a new Yorkshire supply chain and is now on target to increase its turnover from £300k to in excess of £600k over the next 12 months. Kiravans, a mail order supplier to the campervan conversion trade, was set up by brothers Mike and Robert McCandless with
Barkston in fire engineering deal with John Dennis
17 November 2011
Engineering specialists at a Leeds company are pioneering fabrication in a material new to the UK for the manufacture of fire engine bodies that are safer, lighter, stronger and more durable. Barkston Plastics engineers were chosen by Guildford‐based coach builders John Dennis to co‐operate on the production of the bodies in the co‐polymer Polybilt, in
£500,000 Move Grows Bespoke Kitchen Production
1 November 2010
Supplying the continued growing demand from independent kitchen retailers against the mass sales of the DIY sheds has led to a major relocation for Yorkshire’s Designer Factory Kitchens (DFK). Having outgrown its Leeds Road base in Bradford, the company has invested £500,000 in moving to Drighlington, Leeds and equipping its new home with state of
Panels Build A Brighter Future
4 January 2010
Suppliers to the construction industry have had a tough few years, but for those continuing to invest and develop new lines and markets 2010 is looking a whole lot brighter. Leeds-based panel manufacturer VC Industries is one such firm now poised to take advantage of the upturn. Despite a 2009 dip in annual sales from
Expanding Signs Of The Times
19 May 2009
A leading UK signs company that has grown consistently in its 17-year history to top £12m annual sales is extending its Leeds premises to handle bigger projects, increase warehousing and bring metalworking production in-house. The new 2,000 sq ft extension will enable Omega Signs to increase lean manufacturing processes, staging additional staff training and improved
£300K Birthday Present From China For Leeds Plastics Firm
8 May 2009
One of Leeds’ longest-established plastics companies is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a £300,000 order all the way from China. Barkston Plastics is playing a major role in an 18-month £3m project, co-ordinated by Yeadon-based design house Process Line to make and supply lithographic tanks and ancillary equipment to the Chinese printing industry. It follows
Turkish Delight Builds Exports From Leeds
23 March 2009
A £200,000-plus export order for a hotel project in Turkey has crowned a fifth successive year of growth for an innovative Leeds-based construction components firm. The masonry support and heavy duty cast in channel systems from Cross Green based ACS Stainless Steel Fixings are destined for Ankara and follow other prestige orders for the on-going
Plastic Origami Builds Retail Sales The
1 February 2009
The design and production ingenuity of a Leeds-based plastics company is helping hard-pressed retailers to maximise sales growth in today’s tough trading climate. Design-led Bartuf Systems specialises in the conception, manufacture and assembly of high quality display systems for leading high street names, supermarkets and motorway service area operators. By understanding the psychology of selling,
Union Gears Up For War
7 March 2008
Company chairman Paul Schofield’s New Year message in 2001 was remarkably prescient. Sharing a traditional start of the year glass of champagne with his 65 staff at Union Industries in Leeds, he announced: “We’re at war on two fronts: the competition – that’s not a problem and terrorism which is going to be a big
Crystal Clear Future For Plastics Firm Sitting Comfortably
13 December 2006
A winning combination of skilled engineering and academia is set to double the £9million annual sales of a Leeds-based plastics company. Barkston Plastics already had skill and resource links with St John’s College, York, but generally found that design students were leaving university with no practical engineering experience. From a think tank emerged the instruction
Signmakers Head For Heights
27 April 2006
Abseilers and technicians poised to re-brand Vienna’s 14-storey, five star Intercontinental hotel with eight-foot lettering were stopped in their tracks when a fleet of helicopters and Israeli security personnel effectively sealed off the place. Ariel Sharon was booking in and the team from Leeds-based Ashleigh Signs was shadowed every step of the way during the