Exports drive growth for steel specialist MTL

The group, which makes products ranging from armour plating for military vehicles to wind turbine components, said its move from Sheffield to a new 300,00sq ft facility in Brinsworth, Rotherham, enabled it to double capacity and bring ll its manufacturing under one roof.

The firm employs 365 people in Rotherham and a further 15 at its quayside facility in Blyth, Northumberland.

MTL said the £5m investment in its new home allowed it to specialise in volume manufacturing, with 22 per cent of turnover now coming from exports. Its products are shipped around the world to mainland Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and India.

Finance director David O’Hara said: “We have established a worldwide reputation as a specialist processor with the capability to cut, bend, machine and fabricate steel to customers’ specific requirements. This expertise is increasingly being sought by overseas customers with exports growing to almost a quarter of our turnover.

“Last year, we were awarded our largest ever export to supply 97 boat landing systems to a leading European foundations manufacturer, for a German offshore wind farm.

“Since then, our export success in the offshore wind market has continued as we have secured several multi-million pound export orders to supply boat landings for the Borkum West and Meerwind offshore wind farms in the North Sea.

“Having made a significant investment in larger, more efficient manufacturing facilities and also in training our workforce to the highest level of competency, we have been able to meet this demand from overseas and also to explore new sectors such as offshore wind farms.”

MTL Group was established in 1995, underwent a management buyout in 2006, and has doubled its turnover in the last five years to £50m.