Wolverhampton-based BST Supplies welcomes new era
A specialist fastening manufacturer has revealed it is working around the clock as new projects and investment signal a new era at the firm.
A specialist fastening manufacturer has revealed it is working around the clock as new projects and investment signal a new era at the firm.
Wolverhampton-based BST Supplies has appointed a new management team to build on the success of recent years and lead a recruitment drive.
BST now employs more than 90 staff on its Zenith site, in Fordhouse Road, Bushbury, and has a turnover of more £10 million a year.
The business was founded 24 years ago by Stuart and co-director Tony Lawless who have now taken a non-executive role on the board.
James Mee has taken over from his father Stuart as managing director and been joined by financial director Paul Adams.
An operations director to complete the new management trio is due to be announced shortly.
The firm manufactures precision special fasteners, threaded and machined components, often in small to medium or prototype-sized batches.
The majority of components are manufactured in materials that can be corrosion, chemical and heat resistant for safety requirements.
Petrochemical, nuclear and naval industries and government bodies are among the markets served by the firm.
James Mee is keen to keep pushing the business hard and build on the foundations laid by his father and Mr Lawless.
"We are constantly examining what we do and how we do it, and to that end we recently incorporated a new mechanical testing facility on site – something we used to sub-contract," he said.
"We are investing heavily in people and training and work with both the apprenticeship schemes and the University of Wolverhampton's graduate placement scheme."
The business has also invested £150,000 in manufacturing resource planning software called Efacs which has saved time and helps workers ensure it has the right materials in stock.
Bosses have taken on an adjoining 6,000 sqft unit and now runs 24 hours a day, five days a week, resulting in the recruitment drive.
Mr Mee says this process has caused some problems, adding: "We are finding it difficult to recruit engineers to work in our machine shop and first rate technical sales staff are very hard to find.
"For our night shift we are looking not just for technical staff but also in quality and packing. Whereas the day shift on our coating facility was able to cope with demand, we are now running the coating facility 24 hours a day as well."
With the increase in demand and staff numbers, the firm has also introduced a new production layout across the two factory units.
BST has recently added countries such as Columbia and Australia to its overseas customer list which includes Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, Norway, Germany, France, Angola, Poland and the USA.
"We are committed to continue our growth and we are working hard to ensure that we find the right people," Mr Mee added.
