Contract haul tops strong quarter for Corbetts the Galvanizers

Corbetts the Galvanizers, which employs 105 people at its facility in Halesfield in Telford, has won contracts to supply customers involved in producing security fencing, street lighting, cable management systems and agricultural trailers.

The success comes after the company launched its new philosophy of focusing on hassle-free service, stunning steel and customer service as opposed to the traditional ‘stack it high, sell it cheap’ mentality often seen in the sector.

A ‘right first time’ commitment has really resonated with its diverse client base and helped it convert pipeline business into actual sales as it looks to head towards £12 million of annual sales.

Sophie Williams, finance director of Corbetts the Galvanizers, said: “2019 promised to be an exciting year for our business and it’s certainly living up to its billing with some important new wins and the potential for increased volumes for the rest of the next six months.

“This is just part of the story. In addition to the new approach, we are also working towards our ISO 9001 quality accreditation, which will help us increase efficiencies whilst also putting us in pole position for new opportunities.

“For example, securing this standard will definitely open up tenders for work with HS2 and the new nuclear power reactors being built at Hinkley Point, both projects that will involve a significant amount of galvanised parts.”

Corbetts the Galvanizers specialise in hot dip galvanizing, which involves the coating of steel with a layer of zinc by immersing the metal in a bath of molten zinc.

When exposed to the atmosphere, the pure zinc reacts with the oxygen to form zinc oxide, a strong material that stops further corrosion in many circumstances, protecting the steel from the elements.

A continued investment strategy is very important to the business and it has already purchased a new weighbridge and made significant infrastructure improvements to its facilities in Shropshire this year, creating more natural lighting across the shopfloor.

“Our acquisition by Ardenton Capital, a Canadian-based private equity specialist, in 2017 marked a paradigm shift in our approach and signalled the first stages of our move away from a business that failed to invest in its staff and its performance,” added Sophie.

“The organisational changes we started to put in place back then are now reaping dividends and we are in the process of making a number of crucial appointments. In fact, the first one has just been completed with Natalie Hughes joining us as human resources manager.

“She joins the operations support team and wider senior management team and brings with her over 10 years of HR experience within the industrial sector. Upskilling our staff and retaining the best talent is a big challenge for us after the legacy of previous management teams. Having Natalie on board goes a long way to helping us achieve our aim of becoming an employer of choice in the region.”