Shropshire window maker has clear vision for future

Framexpress, on The Halesfield Industrial Estate in Telford, has upgraded its equipment and factory space to handle an increase in business since the dramatic upturn in the housing market began.

The manufacturer is in the top 10 per cent of window manufacturers in the country, sending more than 800 windows out of its doors every week.

Now it has invested in the machinery that will allow the company to step up production once again, helping it to increase its turnover by up to a third.

At present it is working with annual turnover of around £6 million, but the new facilities will help increase the number of products heading out of the doors, raising that figure to nearer £8 million.

Managing director Mark Westbrook said: "We have grown significantly this year, and just spent upwards of £1 million investing in new machines and increased the floorspace by 10,000 sq ft to give us more capacity.

"While the industry was on a downward slide in the last few years, our turnover has been fairly static.

"We have grown our customer base in tough times, and now we are reaping the benefits as those customers become busier."

Framexpress was launched in 1998 by two directors with a collective 25 years in the industry.

The company serves a variety of clients including medium sized housebuilders such as Shrewsbury's Saxonby, and housing trusts such as the Wrekin Housing Trust.

It is one of 1,500 companies in the UK that manufactures windows, but is one of less than 100 that turns out more than 500 per week.

And Mr Westbrook believes the market is closing up around those smaller cottage companies, and that the move to a smaller group of manufacturers is inevitable.

"The way the industry is going, with new investment, red tape, and working practices, those people making less than 100 windows a week can't compete any more," he said.

"The industry is going like supermarkets, there's only going to be the major players. We are looking to encourage people to come to buy from us, helping people to become more profitable.

"We see some very good sales-led companies that are wasting time manufacturing in inefficient factories, and we can take that headache away from them and enable them to concentrate on sales and professionalise that side of the business."

The new equipment includes a £500,000 Schirmer-brand saw and top-of-the-range new welding facilities costing around £75,000 to £80,000, on a hire-purchase agreement with its bank.

Framexpress has also taken on two additional factories beside its base in Halesfield 9, investing around £200,000, to add more room for manufacturing.

Mr Westbrook added: "It's a bit like a car. While a Skoda will get you from A to B, a Bentley does it better and with more style. We have bought top of the market equipment, that is quicker, more accurate, and more user friendly.

"Fifteen years in our industry under the same name is quite some going. We work hard and believe we look after our customers well, it's about building relationships."