PRWIL26 Release
Date: Sept 4,2013

Manufacturing ‘boom' comment

Claims that UK manufacturing is booming again have been met with caution by a local business leader.

Teresa Hands, Managing Director of Birmingham-based Wilmat Limited, said: "It's true that the past six months or so has seen a significant improvement in the sector, but full recovery is still a long way off.

"Although we've seen very healthy sales over the year so far, business varies from month to month. This is true for several other businesses we've spoken to in recent weeks."

Teresa was commenting on the latest Markit/CIPS purchasing managers index (PMI), released this week, which shows the sector enjoying its strongest growth in activity for two and a half years. It also revealed output and new orders rose at their fastest rate for 19 years.

The figures have prompted some commentators to suggest business is booming but the figures need to be taken in context says Teresa.

"We are coming out of a very long and very deep recession, and businesses can't afford to take anything for granted. Firms still need to work as hard as ever to retain customers and win new business," she added.

END

Editor's Notes

Wilmat Group

Wilmat Limited designs and manufactures bespoke, pedestrian-operated materials handling equipment for clients across a wide range of sectors.

Clients use its consultancy service to find cost effective solutions to their materials handling problems. All bespoke products are manufactured in the UK at Wilmat's factory in Birmingham.

Products include industrial fork lifts, tow tractors, scissor lift tables, stackers, prime movers, cranes, mould / die handlers, platform trucks.

Clients include major companies such as BMW, Ford, Caterpillar, BT, Siemens, Schneider, London Midland and Southern Railways, KP Foods and Aga.

Wilmat Limited provides its clients with a full after sales and maintenance service through its Servicing Division. All service engineers are employed by Wilmat to ensure exemplary service and increased operational life for its manufactured products.

Wilmat can also fulfill its client's day-to-day materials handling needs through its catalogue service for standard materials handling and lifting equipment products.

The company's headquarters is in Steward Street, Birmingham.