Product category:
Tanks, pipework, nozzles, tube fittings
News Release from: Van Leeuwen Wheeler
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 May 2007
Tube specialist announces new UK
investment
Specialist tube and pipe distributor Van Leeuwen Wheeler has announced plans for a major expansion at its Middlesbrough warehouse, to match the capacity increase to their recent growth in sales
Specialist tube and pipe distributor Van Leeuwen Wheeler has announced plans for a major expansion at its Middlesbrough warehouse This marks a new stage in the company development and will see the north east warehouse becoming a distribution hub for the VLW UK operations
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 23 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Since the company was created just over two years ago by the merger of M/K Wheeler and Van Leeuwen Precision, part of the Dutch-owned Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group, it has achieved considerable growth: investment by the parent group has already seen capacity and processing facilities being increased in Middlesbrough.
The latest investment will result in a 40 per cent increase in its warehousing capacity and will include increased cutting capacity as well as expanded product ranges.
VLW managing director Jeff Blakey says: "The new investment will add a further 40,000sq ft of warehousing space on the Middlesbrough site: this growth in capacity reflects our increased market share.
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During 2005 we concentrated our efforts on bedding in the newly merged operation and having succeeded in this, we saw steady growth in business last year.
Having proved our credentials as experts in sourcing and supplying an unrivalled range of product, we are now seeing a monthly year on year increase in volume of business of around 30%.
At the time of the merger, around 500 tonnes of material was leaving Middlesbrough each month: we are now looking at around 1600 tonnes.
The new investment will enable us to further improve both product ranges and operational logistics".
This VLW business growth has been fuelled by two key factors: a substantially increased UK-held range of product and growth in demand from UK manufacturers enjoying strong export sales.
With extensive ranges of bar and pipe for the hydraulic and pneumatic, mechanical engineering and special welded tube markets, plus recently expanded ranges of stainless tubular products, the UK operation also has the support of its parent group's three major stockholding warehouses in the Netherlands.
Commenting on the current business scenario, Jeff Blakey says: "We are seeing a considerable increase in business coming from industries who are exporting, specifically in the construction and on and off-shore oil and gas industries which are particularly strong at present.
We are also seeing growth through our local sales presence in the North East and Scotland.
Business from local engineering companies is growing and we have doubled our sales into Scotland".
Work to extend the current Middlesbrough warehouse is due to start shortly with completion scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year.
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