Posted on May - 02 - 2010
Steel stockholder John Chorley shows its mettle
A Warrington-based steel business which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year is investing £750,000 in new machinery to provide a complete solution for customers.
Because of the slump, steel stockholder John Chorley & Co had to lay off 15 of its staff to take numbers down to 35.
But managing director Terry Shanahan said he has taken on three recruits this week as business starts to pick up.
He also hopes to take on more when a new production line the company is installing in May becomes fully operational.
The line is part of an investment package which has also included a new £250,000 drill. It enables steel to be heated, shot blasted, painted and dried all in one go.
Mr Shanahan, 42, has been managing director of the £15m-turnover company for 10 years and has worked there for 22 years.
He was instrumental in presenting the case for investment to the company’s ultimate owners, the £75m-turnover Caldwell Group, which has controlled it since the 1920s.
“We knew we could negotiate a favourable rate on both items because of the economic downturn,” he said.
He said the new unit will be the only one of its kind in the north west and will help the company become more of a ‘one-stop shop’ for its clients.
“We have offered both these services in the past, but only through subcontractors,” he said.
“When this new machinery is up and running we will be able to take on work for our heavy fabrication clients, for example, on a day-by-day basis.
“All they will have to do is email us an industry standard file of their design which we can then download to produce what they want on our machines.”
Mr Shanahan also hopes the new machinery will help the company increase its profile beyond the north west.
“All our marketing is nationwide already,” he said. “And we certainly have options on our 6.5- acre site.”
Mr Shanahan is also due to take over as chairman of the North Eastern Association of Steel Stockholders in February next year.
He said the name of the association reflects the dominance of the north east in the stockholding industry, and the fact that it was allowing the managing director of a north west-based company to be chairman was
evidence of the company’s growing reputation.
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