Marshalls looks to building security market

The Huddersfield-based company has designed a range of impact-tested counter terrorist bollards as part of its specialist new high-security RhinoGuard range.

Marshall's chief executive Graham Holden said that the new range of bollards would offer maximum protection, but would not be an eyesore.

"In the past these bollards have been functional not aesthetic," he said. "This new range provides the necessary security, but also looks good."

A key part of the Government's strategy to combat the threat of international terrorism is to improve the UK's protection against vehicle attacks.

Mr Holden said RhinoGuard bollards have been successfully crash tested in accordance with the new BSI PAS 68 standard.

He was speaking yesterday as the paving-to-street-furniture company announced annual pre-tax profits in line with expectations following a restructuring programme.

The company, which makes landscaping products for driveways and gardens, said its 2009 pre-tax profits shrank to 12.1m from 22.5m last year, in line with analysts' expectations.

Marshalls called the reduction in sales volumes "unprecedented", but said it had cut costs by 11.4m in 2009 and completed a restructuring of the business.

Mr Holden said: "There is still market uncertainty, not least because of the impending election."

He said that in the past the Conservative party had been linked to low taxes and lower public spending which has boosted the consumer market whereas Labour is associated with high taxes and higher spending, which boosts the public sector.

However this time the likelihood is that whichever party wins, it will have to increase taxes and lower spending, although Mr Holden said he believes the Government will continue to spend on education and rail infrastructure.

The group is hopeful the new Olympic park in east London will soon hand out contracts worth over 10m for paving and street furniture at the site.

Marshalls is hoping to get around 40 per cent of this 10m pot, which would be in line with its market share.

The group said it is seeing some signs of delayed projects restarting, particularly in supplying to the public sector where it has achieved good visibility.

It closed four sites last year – two in the Midlands, one in Wales and one in Sussex – with the loss of around 400 jobs.

Mr Holden said that no further redundancies are planned.

Marshalls said it would pay a final dividend of 3.5p per share bringing the total dividend to 5.25p, compared to the 5.37p per share paid in 2008 and adjusting for the "bonus factor" in the rights issue.