A last minute deal agreed by the Kanban Group has rescued a sheet metal pressing firm from administration and certain closure.
Indmar Sheet Metal of Hindley Green, called in the administrators in February, with its workforce fearing the worst for the 33-year-old engineering firm, which supplies equipment for battleships and submarines, pressings for lawnmower manufacturer Hayter and industrial equipment maker Ingersoll Rand, and coated steel shelving for Tesco supermarkets.
But it seems their prayers were answered as the Kanban Group – a rapidly-growing engineering business founded on Japanese-inspired lean manufacturing techniques – came to the rescue.
Kanban, established by Cambridge and Cranfield-educated engineering expert Paul Bell and business turnaround expert Mark Blayney, bought Indmar – formerly part of the Park Products group – for £250,000.
The new owners have not only kept on the full workforce, but also met the unpaid wage bill that had mounted before administrators were brought in.
Now, the renamed Kanban Sheet Metal is aiming to increase throughput by 50 per cent and boost order books, using training to build up knowledge of business improvement techniques for everyone in the company.
“We were delighted to find a motivated, skilled workforce at Indmar, and we have already made great strides in harnessing those strengths to push Kanban Sheet Metal ahead into a new and productive era,” said Bell.
“Some people might be surprised to find a so-called traditional manufacturing company alive and well in Wigan, but we have strong faith in the excellent qualities of our employees, and are in it for the long-term.”
