The explosive growth in the mobile phone industry has opened up a new era of opportunity for one of Oldham’s more traditional engineering companies.
Turnover, recruitment and investment have all increased sharply since Broadhurst Engineering began fabricating and installing communication masts for the big mobile network operators.
The firm is part of the successful £65 million Salford-based Medlock Group which designs and build masts for Vodafone, Orange, O2, Hutchinson 3G and T-Mobile who will be rolling out their third generation (3G) networks during 2002-03.
Broadhurst’s growth reflects Medlock’s own meteoric rise. Turnover is expected to treble to £4.5 million in 2002 and double again to £9 million in the following year.
Recruitment in the same period has gone from 40 to 90 and should hit 130 in 2003.
The company has invested £600,000 in refurbished workshop accommodation in Moorhey Street, Oldham, where it fabricates the steel for the network masts erected on rooftop and greenfield sites. In 2003 it will open an office in Crawley and is seeking additional land within the Borough for further expansion.
David Blucher, the firm’s managing director, estimates there are currently 25,000 mobile communications masts around the UK but with the introduction of the newer systems the number could increase to 80,000 over the next few years as distances between individual masts become shorter
“We believe the market for network installations will grow to £500 million a year and Medlock can win a major chunk of this business,” he commented. Broadhurst is one of three Medlock subsidiaries that between them have expertise – and a big order book – in design, fabrication, installation, rigging and cabling. The company started life a century ago as a blacksmith shop focusing in later years on ornamental ironwork.
“Fabricating and building steel masts is old-type engineering work but it’s being applied in the context of a very modern technology sector,” added Mr. Blucher.
Medlock grew out of Oldham-based Medlock Construction which was the subject of a Management Buy Out and is no longer part of the main group. The group has a 400-strong workforce and operations in five UK locations.