Hub Le Bas on the trail of fresh growth
A dramatic turnaround has seen business booming and new jobs created at a Bilston steel company less than a year after it was rescued from the collapse of the Caparo group.
Hub Le Bas, which supplies steel tubing to a range of industries, was bought by Liberty House Group in December following the collapse into administration of the Caparo Industries parent company.
Liberty House, owned by the Gupta family, is now building a UK-wide steel business and has also been a leading bidder for the Tata Steel business. It rescued nearly 1,000 Black Country jobs when it bought Caparo businesses across the region, including Hub Le Bas.
Under Liberty's ownership, Hub Le Bas has been on the comeback trail with new management and newly revealed plans for growth and investment.
The Bilston company, with roots going back over a century, has already regained more than 75 per cent of its former client base and expects to complete its rapid recovery in the coming months.
Hub Le Bas says it is now gaining almost 50 new clients a month and has been able to boost workforce numbers from 88 to 99 as its re-establishes itself as the country's leading supplier of precision steel tubes.
And the company says it is now moving into a new phase of expansion and investment.
It is planning to add to new sites to its existing five-strong UK network – Bristol, Leicester, London, Manchester and Wakefield as well as its Rose Street headquarters in Bradley, Bilston. And it will invest nearly £2 million in advanced laser cutting equipment to boost quality and productivity.
Managing director Rob Sweetnam, who was appointed in May this year, said: "We are experiencing a rapid growth in the demand for precision cut tube components and are taking the necessary steps to respond to customer needs.
"The use of fully-programmed laser cutting equipment provides clients with improvements in accuracy and quality while also reducing downstream assembly costs."
The new laser cutting machines will be sited at its London, Manchester and Leicester branches, supplementing its existing capacity at Bilston.
Hub Le Bas says it has an extensive portfolio of 8,000 product lines and maintains high stock levels to meet demand from clients of all sizes from industries as diverse as the automotive, defence, construction and medical sectors.
Highly-trained staff are equipped to deliver in-depth product and technical knowledge as well as high levels of customer service.
Douglas Dawson, chief executive of Liberty Industries Group – the former Caparo engineering businesses rescued last year – added: "Steel distribution is an important part of Liberty's business strategy. It aims to deliver best in class solutions through our fully integrated business model – covering the entire supply chain from liquid steel all the way though to advanced engineering products.
"Hub Le Bas is an important part of this strategy, and we are committed to further growing and expanding the business for the benefit of both our customers and employees."
