A successful timber engineering firm has expanded its business - and created a jobs boost - by moving into a new site in Halifax.
Heywood Timber Engineering has taken over the formerly derelict Alumex Works on Water Lane, bringing it up to spec with brand new offices and a large workshop and yard.
The company was previously based in Lancashire but have doubled their yard space by moving to Halifax and tripled the staff headcount on the factory floor.
Heywood specialises in the design and manufacture of timber rooftrusses, timber framed buildings and I-Beam joists and have now been able to bring the manufacturing of their metal web engineered floors in-house.
Jonathan Mayo joined the firm as managing director two years ago. In that time the company has grown from annual turnover of £300,000 to an expected £1.6m this year. He believes the key is the quality of products and the company’s pride in customer service.
“The products we produce here are very good. When we secure a customer there’s an ethos that we never let them down. Customer retention is growing and our reputation is growing. That really is the key to it.
“We know what we are doing. We have some exceptionally good staff both out on the shop floor and in the office.
“It made sense to move the business to Halifax. We needed somewhere with a large enough yard space.
“This site is brilliant. Moving here has tripled our production capability,” he said.
Heywood’s main customers are local timber merchants and big building companies. It also supplies products for smaller projects, such as timber-frame house extensions.
Mr Mayo said the future is looking brighter for the building industry and Heywood Timber Engineering in particular. There are plans for more jobs over the next three years - including training graduates and predictions are the company will break £2m next year.
He said: “We have grown in a declining time. There’s a general feeling that the property market is going to improve. We are currently busier than last year. Big builders are building again. I’m sure when it does pick up next year, we will be in the best place to capitalise.”