13 September 2011
Portakabin Welcomes Encouraging Optimism in Manufacturing Sector
Portakabin, the UK's leading modular building specialist, is supporting the upturn in the UK manufacturing sector, with its range of interim building solutions which allow manufacturers to meet changing business needs very quickly.
A gradual increase in confidence has been identified in a recent survey* conducted by the manufacturers' organisation EEF and BDO LLP. This states that the manufacturing sector has continued to maintain healthy growth for six consecutive quarters, with a significant amount of businesses seeing a rise in both output and total new orders. The majority of EEF members who took part in the survey forecast production levels to grow again over the next three months, with positive investment and recruitment intentions.
Managing business growth whilst meeting customer needs is a key concern. Modular buildings can provide manufacturers with a more flexible approach to accommodation, delivering fully fitted work space for a variety of uses from offices to training and IT suites, meeting rooms, canteens and welfare facilities.
One company which has benefited from highly flexible Portakabin solutions is Johnson Matthey Catalysts, a global manufacturer of catalysts. Its facility at Clitheroe in Lancashire has used the Portakabin Hire Centre in Blackburn for nearly two decades. Its latest project was to provide a new electrical workshop on the site. Other buildings hired from Portakabin have included meeting suites, office space and employee welfare facilities.
David Greatorex, Facilities Manager at Johnson Matthey, said, "There is a finite amount of space on this site. Taking a modular approach allows us to flex the usage of the site and adapt staff accommodation very quickly. We have built a strong, longstanding relationship with Portakabin. The team understands our business needs and deliver excellent customer service, providing us with high quality interim buildings on time and on budget."
"While the UK continues to face challenging economic conditions, we are very encouraged by the growing optimism in the manufacturing sector", said Mike Williams, General Manager of Portakabin Hire.
"Modular accommodation can be extended, reconfigured or relocated very quickly to meet changing business needs, providing flexibility and versatility for manufacturers and with very little disruption to their production operations. As the UK's market leader in modular solutions, our customers also benefit from the largest network of Hire Centres in the UK."
All Portakabin buildings for hire have the reassurance of extensive accreditations, which include Zurich, BBA, and LABC approvals, as well as ISO 9001 for quality assurance and ISO 14001 for environmental performance.
For further information about modular buildings for interim applications, visit www.portanews.co.uk, email information@portakabin.co.uk or call 0845 459 1054.
Editor's Notes
1. *Source: Manufacturing Outlook, September 2011, published by EEF/BDO LLP, www.eef.org.uk.
2. Portakabin modular buildings offer a range of advantages over site-based construction, including:
• Programme times reduced by up to 50 per cent
• Highly flexible and innovative accommodation solutions, such as Ultima Vision - a fully glazed modular building available for hire, and Titan - the largest single modular building in Europe
• Enhanced quality and a robust steel-framed construction
• The provision of buildings with significantly less disruption
• A wide variety of aesthetic and fitting out options to reduce procurement time.
3. Portakabin is a registered trademark.
