Matrix expresses confidence in Brechin site
Matrix International, one of Brechin's major employers, is intent on staying in the area.
- By Chris Hardy
- Published in the Courier : 26.07.10
- Published online : 26.07.10 @ 12.41pm
Uncertainty about the lease of its Eastmill Road premises — owned by Kelman Engineering, which has gone into liquidation — has prompted speculation about its future.
Richard Perry, the business unit manager of Matrix's parent company, Altra Industrial Motion, said, "Where people are getting the perception we are closing the factory, I don't know. It is simply not true."
He acknowledged the firm's need for a viable facility from which to run the business was a concern and that the demise of neighbours Kelman Engineering had left it seeking a resolution to their lease.
Mr Perry said, "We have got to get that sorted out. We have been in regular consultation the bankers and liquidators representing Kelman. We really want to remain here."
Mr Perry's reassuring words came with confirmation Matrix had almost £1 million of work in its order books and the company was in a very healthy trading position.
He said, "We don't have a plan to close our Brechin facility. We went through the recession last year and in fact in the past 18 months we have restructured the business to focus on our key strategic products and markets.
"Some of our key markets are elevators, fork lift trucks, servo motors and electric brakes. Servo motors and fork lift truck brakes comprise much of the Brechin business and we are trying to get those focused in this factory."
He added, "In the last six to eight months we have actually moved products in here. We moved a product from our operation in France which fits better with the products we make here.
"We have also moved in a product from the United States which is sold to customers in Europe and it makes more sense to have it made here than shipping it."
Mr Perry said, "We are setting things up to continue to be a good viable businesses — not just locally, but globally."
He said the company needed to take decisions on where it wanted to continue to manufacture, and Brechin had a strong order book.
He added, "People tend to see the machines that are being taken out, but nobody notices the new machinery and product lines which arrived from France. I am amazed that people get the perception we are closing when we are doing all theses positive things for thebusiness."
He added, "Our European operations manager, who is responsible for the plant in Brechin, is very enthusiastic about the facility. Our chairman says the company is in a position from which we can start laying out our long-term plans.
"We have a good engineering team. We need to get people retrained and in touch with some of our newer products and, hopefully, as our market continues to grow, that will lead to further employment."
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