Business

Diesel generator AJ Power in sales surge amid exports growth

AJ Power makes a range of diesel generators
AJ Power makes a range of diesel generators

CRAIGAVON-based diesel generator maker AJ Power saw turnover increase by a third last year as the business grew its presence overseas.

Sales reached £39.1 million in the year to June 2015 against £28.8m over the previous 12 months.

It meant profits after tax at the company, were £1.97m - up around 21 per cent on the 2014's figure.

AJ Power was founded in 2002 by five senior ex-employees and directors of FG Wilson.

It designs, assembles and tests diesel-fuelled electric-power generating sets for use in hospitals, banks, data centres, supermarkets and hotels, as well as for industrial, construction and exploration use.

The firm is considered one of the UK's fastest growing exporters.

As recently as 2012, the value of its exports was £9.8m but last year that had grown to £35.5m and made up more than 90 per cent of total revenue.

AJ Power directors said they were "satisfied" with the results which were published at Companies House in Belfast.

And they said the would target further growth in the years ahead.

"The board continues to invest in the business as was the case in the prior year. In that year, manufacturing facilities were constructed to satisfy the anticipated needs of the market, in terms of demand and product type," they said.

"In the current financial period, the board took the strategic decision to grow by acquisition through the purchase of a manufacturing and sales operation in South Africa.

"This meant the company, and now group, could meet its ambitious growth targets within a time frame that would not have been possible, due to an inability to source suitable industrial land for expansion in close proximity to its existing facilities."

Notes with the accounts showed that AJ Power paid just under half-a-million for FGW Generators Proprietary in South Africa last year in a mixture of cash (£169,040) and stocks (£328,727).

The number of staff at the company grew during the year to 95 (from 80 in 2014) making its wage bill almost £2.5m.

Directors remuneration and pension contributions reached £256,000 with the highest paid director receiving £45,870.

In addition to the new South Africa facility, AJ Power also opened an office in Dubai during the year in a bid to help increase sales in the Gulf region by upwards of 50 per cent.