ANTRIM trailer-maker the Retlan Manufacturing Group, now controlled from the Guangdong Province in China, has increased its sales and profit in the last full trading year, according to its latest accounts filed at Companies House.
The Toomebridge-based company, whose principal division is SDC Trailers, was reporting its first set of results (covering the year to last April) since its multi-million pound acquisition in June 2016 by a division of China International Marine Containers (CIMC), the largest make of containers in the world.
And the firm's upwards trading trajectory continued as it made a pre-tax profit of £12.5 million on revenues of £189.4 million.
Figures posted at Companies House also reveal that the Retlan Group (as well as making and selling commercial trailers it sells other commercial vehicles and parts) had an average workforce of 886 over the year up 58 on the previous year), which saw its wages bill rise from £25.7m to £26.1m
Retlan Manufacturing was founded in 1978 by entrepreneur John Donnelly (in June he was awarded an MBE for services to business).
But 18 months ago, on the day after the UK electorate voted to exit the European Union, Retlan was snapped up by CIMC Vehicles for an disclosed sum.
CIMC Vehicles is part of the China International Marine Containers Group, which currently makes more than 200,000 trailers and semi-trailers a year at dozens of manufacturing facilities across the world in North America, Europe, Australia, Thailand and mainland China.
During the transition to new ownership, most of the original Retlan board have resigned their appointments, including Mr Donnelly and its chief executive Mark Cuskeran. Accountant Enda Cushnahan is the only Northern Ireland-domiciled member of the current board.
With production levels exceeding 9,500 units last year, SDC continues to drive innovation and explore new markets including the Middle East.
