Business

Antrim based SAM Mouldings plans to double turnover

Richard Holmes, left, managing director of SAM Mouldings and Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing Northern Ireland
Richard Holmes, left, managing director of SAM Mouldings and Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing Northern Ireland Richard Holmes, left, managing director of SAM Mouldings and Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing Northern Ireland

ANTRIM manufacturer SAM Mouldings wants to double turnover by 2020.

The family run firm has embarked on an ambitious growth strategy which it said had already seen staff numbers balloon in recent years.

The company, which makes MDF mouldings, including skirting and architrave, said the payroll had risen to 180 from 90 in 2013.

SAM was founded in 1990 and sells across Ireland, Britain and Europe and last year posted turnover of almost £20 million.

That followed the firm switching to seven-day-a-week production schedule in 2014.

SAM managing director Richard Holmes said: “The past three years have been a particularly exciting time for the company as we have doubled in size and recruited for 90 new positions.

"We are keen to build on this momentum and we are looking ahead to the next five years with a focused and goal orientated strategy in place.

“We have already implemented several changes in order to achieve our targets, including introducing a new marketing department, launching a new website and moving to seven-day-a-week production.

"We have recently introduced a new product development department to enable the company to react quickly to the growing opportunities within the construction sector.”

In its most recent set of annual accounts, which cover the 12 months to February 2015, SAM reported turnover of £19.4m - up from £15.5m the previous year.

The financials detailed a profit of £376,725 after tax prior to marking down a loss of £2.6m on the disposal of fixed assets.

Mr Holmes said he was "immensely proud of our team and I believe that it is through their commitment and loyalty to the company that we have achieved such success to date".

"This is an ambitious company and we have attracted great talent throughout the years. We work hard to provide development opportunities that will help our staff to achieve their career goals. I think it speaks volumes that almost 30 per cent of our staff has been with the company for 10 years or more," he said.

Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said: “Despite some difficult manufacturing news in Co Antrim in recent months, the growth of SAM is evidence of the continued success of the local manufacturing sector.

"We have great people making great products enjoyed in markets at home and abroad. Companies such as SAM prove that we and they can take on and beat international competition. Their success is built on a settled and skilled workforce, understanding their market needs and quality leadership. Their investment in people, product and market development has led to this huge growth and will lead to future, long term success.”