IN BUSINESS Firm marks milestone year with big sales boost
RUNCORN engineering firm James Troop & Co has celebrated its 150th anniversary with a surge in new business and export sales.
The family-run diesel-engine sales and maintenance firm is one of the Liverpool City Region’s longeststanding maritime and industrial businesses.
A company spokesman said it has achieved a 27% sales hike on last year’s figures between January to June.
He said growth has been steady in all sectors of work with a notable increase in servicing work and spare parts sales.
Engine sales experienced a massive surge, he said.
The sesquicentennial celebration coincides with four staff appointments and more than £200,000 of investment in infrastructure and technology.
James Troop & Co works on all aspects of diesel engines and generators from engines sales, spare parts supply, component overhauls including testing and 24/7 after-sales service support across the world and the UK.
Bob Troop, company chairman, said growth has been driven by specialist projects in the USA, expansion within the UK windfarm sector and new contracts with major shipping management companies.
Mr Troop, who is the great, great grandson of founder James Troop, said: “It is an incredibly special moment for us to celebrate our 150th year of trading.
“Together we are part of a legacy which has been passed down through generations and forms part of Liverpool’s illustrious maritime heritage.
“The firm has adapted and evolved since its early days in Coburg Dock and has always adopted a progressive outlook in a bid to thrive in an everchanging commercial landscape.
“We selected the Liverpool Yacht Club, within Coburg Dock, to celebrate the landmark occasion with our friends, family, clients and contacts as this was where our story began.
“It is the perfect setting not only to honour our rich company heritage but also to look outwards to the Mersey and beyond to the bright future of the firm.”
Mr Troop handed over the role of managing director in October 2016 following 14 years in the position and 54 years working in-house.
While he remains active in day-today management as chairman he recently appointed joint managing directors Derek Bate and Robert Pollock, who have amassed more than 60 years at the firm.
Mr Bate said: “We have witnessed rapid expansion in the first half of 2017 largely driven by a spike in engine sales.
“This has been underpinned by strong performances in our servicing and spare parts divisions.
“This year we have delivered servicing work across the globe in locations including Greece, Holland, South Africa, Bahrain, Poland and Gibraltar.
“The windfarm sector has also proved a key sector for expansion.
“We have completed large volumes of repair and servicing contracts on work boats and supply vessels for windfarm transfer companies operating off coastlines across the UK from Barrow, Grimsby and Hull to Liverpool, Holyhead and London.
“In addition, two new exclusive supply contracts within the ship management sector have boosted sales of our Japanese engine spare parts with a positive knock-on effect to the servicing division.”
The company initially traded as ● ship repairers for many years, with workshops in Liverpool, Birkenhead and Garston.
It worked for most major shipping companies, extensively for the Ministry Of Defence on aircraft carriers and many other types of ship, including nuclear submarines built at Cammell Laird shipyard.
In the 1950s, the company began diversification into medium and high-speed diesel engine markets through franchises with firms including Rolls-Royce, Ruston, Paxman, Dorman and Perkins.
These have since been joined by Volvo Penta, Deutz, MAN, MTU and Cummins, and one of the largest Japanese engine builders, Daihatsu Diesel Mfg.
Mr Pollock said: “While we are extremely proud of our heritage, we are also passionate about future innovation.
“Being well established and on a sound financial footing we are perfectly placed to look ahead of the curve.
“We work on many specialist projects to raise industry standards.
“One recent American contract involved introducing Tier 4 engine equipment into specialist drilling rig to meet new emissions criteria.
“In terms of industry development our sector is set to be transformed by the arrival of hybrid systems which are already superseding diesel engines used on land.
“This pattern will follow on the sea, in line with IMO regulations, leading to a seismic shift towards new technology.
“We are currently working with the world’s leading engine manufacturers to create hybrid systems for the future.
“This is the cusp of another exciting chapter within the James Troop & Co story.
“Our mission is to continue to do what has been done so well through the generations before us and remain at the vanguard of our industry.”
The company’s history has been supported through staff with formidable records of continuous service and dedication at James Troop including parts team leader Carl Kenwright serving 27 years; John Troop, sales manager serving 25 years; senior engineering technician Dave Squires with 22 years; technical manager Alan Railton with 16 years; and within the customer support dept, Frank Jameson who has served 32 years.