Government education changes have brought a satchel-full of orders for a Midlands SME.
HME Technology, based at Saxon Park in Bromsgrove, is in particular benefiting from the expansion of the academy programme.
The company is the leading supplier and installer of design and technology and science equipment for schools.
With academies enjoying greater autonomy and decision-making powers HSE Technology’s ability to be flexible in shaping each project to individual school requirements is paying off, a major factor in its success.
Its range of products include forges, brazing hearths, furnaces, welding tables, fume extraction systems, kilns, woodworking equipment, wood dust extraction systems, metal finishing and CNC machines. It also supplies fume cupboards and ventilation systems for science departments.
It manufactures some itself and buys in others from leading brands.
Recent order wins have included:
* A £288,000 flagship contract to supply and install design and technology equipment for Landau Forte Academy, Tamworth.
* Working with Sangwin Educational Furniture and construction group Willmott Dixon on the Hope Academy scheme in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire.
* A £40,000 contract to support a new Leicestershire education centre – Melton Vale Post 16 Centre at Melton Mowbray.
HME Technology director Martyn Hale said: “It remains a difficult economic climate in the UK yet our hard work is producing results.
“The changing face of schools today is developing innovative, high quality and well equipped learning environments across the country. These are showpiece orders for us – our flexibility and ability to provide practical and fit-for-purpose solutions has been the key.
“Landau Forte Academy was established to bring together the worlds of business, industry and education in a uniquely productive partnership. Given our interest in all three sectors and our own manufacturing expertise it was a particularly apposite win.
“Quality matters and it is also vitally important that you are prepared to go the extra mile to satisfy every aspect of the customer’s requirements. It is this strategic vision and attention to detail which has given us an edge.”
Mr Hale said a number of further contracts were in the pipeline.
He added: “We are in the frame for a number of big projects and that is very encouraging.”
