Cochran has had an excellent first half in 2013 and currently has a record order book. Orders for new boiler projects for 2013 are 70% higher than for 2012. In order to keep up with current and forecast demand we have been actively recruiting new staff, both for the factory floor, field service team and engineering design support. 13 new staff have been recruited this year and in the summer 6 new apprentices will be added to the 14 we are currently training.
We are still seeing strong orders for turnkey projects from theUKwhilst our export markets remain strong. We have continued to have a strong export business with significant orders currently in the factory for projects in Russia,China,Bangladesh,Singaporeand Dubai and overall our order book is approximately £5m ahead of this time last year.
The order book reflects Cochran’s international presence and the capability to design, manufacture and supply a solution to any industrial boiler requirement. Our project engineering and service support team has enabled us to secure a number of large blue chip projects both in UKand overseas. The Annan factory renewed its ASME accreditation in June 2013. This, along with our Chinese and Russian government accreditation, not to mention Royal Warrant from HM The Queen enables Cochran to manufacture for most of the world.
Tom Ritchie, Managing Director, commented “2013 has, so far, exceeded our expectations. It is extremely satisfying to be in a position where we are creating skilled jobs in UK heavy engineering and training apprentices. We are very proud of the fact that apprentices now make up 10% of our workforce and, as someone who started my career as a Cochran apprentice, I fully appreciate the importance to the business of giving young people such opportunity. The record order book is a testament to the hard work and skills of the staff within our business”
