Investment sees Salamander build for a high-tech future
ALAMANDER Fabrications has taken on two highly qualified new recruits.
Mohammed Zub has joined the Slaithwaite-based firm as a quality engineer and Nick Horn has come in as a manufacturing engineer.
The duo of appointments sees Salamander’s workforce rise to 50-plus, as the team gears up for a transformative year.
The Old Bank firm is currently awaiting the arrival of savvy equipment to its shopfloor – which includes a 6Kw laser and fully automated warehouse system.
Having worked for the Ministry of Defence on various nuclear manufacturing projects across Europe, Mohammed is eager to get to grips with Salamander’s array of technical systems and help to expand its sectorspecific portfolio – especially in the rail industry.
SHEET metal manufacturers Salamander Fabrications has secured a £240,000 investment from Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to invest in high-tech automated machinery.
The Slaithwaite-based firm’s funding success comes on the back of a 2019 to remember.
The company bolstered its workforce
“This firm is always investing so that it can remain at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and be able to compete with the very best out there – and that is something which excites me a great deal,” said the former NNB GenCo consultant.
“I want to be deeply involved in supporting the organisation to grow even further and maintain its highquality standards.”
Meanwhile, Nick arrives with nearly 40 years’ experience in manufacturing having worked for a range of small and large companies.
His ambitions include helping Salamander to continue designing first-class, economically competitive products for its customers and pass on skills to junior members of the team.
He added: “It’s great to be with a business full of friendly, proactive and approachable people.
“I’m excited to welcome the by 10, seeing the 50-strong business win a number of leading contracts – including a project to supply components for a large rail refurbishment project.
The six-figure boost will focus on funding an additional 6Kw laser and fully automated warehouse system with full connectivity to the two lasers meaning 24/7 capability on both machines – further bolstering the Old Bank business’s ambitious 2020 plans. automated machinery too because it will make a huge difference towards our production.”
Speaking about the new appointments, Michael Haskell, managing director at Salamander Fabrications, said: “Zub and Nick are quality additions to our alreadythriving workforce, here in the heart of Huddersfield.
“Their range of experience will be imperative when it comes to utilising our new automated equipment and producing high calibre stock at speed.
“Investing in forward-thinking people – who are specialist operators excited by smart machinery – is what Salamander is all about.”
Salamander Fabrications has more than 50 years’ experience in the sheet metal industry producing precision products for a range of sectors including rail, automotive, agriculture and retail.
David McStrafick, a director at Salamander, said: “This is the first part of a new phase of growth for us.
“Securing the LEP funds goes a very long way towards our projections of transforming Salamander from a £5 million turnover company to a £10 million organisation – so we couldn’t be happier.
“We thrive on innovation and pride ourselves on being a forwardthinking manufacturer because we know the power of automation and what robotics can do.
“The new pieces of equipment will vastly enhance our efficiency, volume of output and maintain our high standard of work. Automation meets a huge demand for both customers and our workforce.
“The scale and speed at which we’ll be able to operate will be exponential and a huge boost towards expansion and upskilling our employees in new technology.”
Speaking about a commercially robust 2019 – and ambitions for the next 12 months, David added: “It’s been a huge and exciting year for Salamander – from the contract wins we’ve achieved to the development of our employees.
“We’ve got plenty more successes in the pipeline and the additional funds will no doubt help towards our goal of turning over eight figures in years to come.”
In partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the LEP works with partners across public and private sectors to help businesses in the Leeds City Region – Kirklees – to grow and become more productive.