Member Article

Light at the end of the tunnel for Barnsley manufacturer

A Barnsley company which makes structural supports for tunnels and embankments could see its turnover more than triple in the next year due to new national infrastructure projects.

Innovative Support Systems is the only manufacturer of new steel-based supports which it claims are stronger and greener than the current systems.

The company has contracts with Network Rail, London Underground and the Canal and River Trust, which means it is on target to hit a turnover of £1m, up from £300,000 last year. Its growth is being supported by free business coaching from Enterprising Barnsley.

Innovative Support Systems’ main products are RamWall, which is used for structures like rail and road embankments, and RamArch, which holds up tunnels.

Both are made from recycled steel. RamWall is filled with recycled material, making it 98 per cent recycled. The only non-recycled part is the galvanising of the steel.

Among the schemes ISS has been involved in are rail tunnels in Derbyshire, a canal tunnel near Birmingham, sections of the London Underground and repairs to a tunnel in Somerset built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel more than 150 years ago.

ISS director Phil Richardson said: “Cuts in infrastructure spending, particularly in the rail industry, had seen our turnover fall to £300,000, but now more and more major projects are coming on stream, so we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.”

In order to manufacture the steel mesh that makes up the outer structure of RamWall and the frame of RamArch the company invested in its own piece of specially built machinery.

The company, which was set up in 2010 and manufactures at Oaks Business Park, currently only supplies the UK market but is looking to expand, particularly into Europe.

Phil said: “We are the only people in the world making these new-style supports and so far they have proved tremendously successful. We are now expanding our marketing with help from Enterprising Barnsley and have one eye on Europe and already have interest from possible clients in France and Belgium. “

As well as marketing, Enterprising Barnsley has helped ISS with advice on HR and Intellectual Property matters.

“The support from Enterprising Barnsley has been tremendous,” said Phil. “They have helped us take what we know is an innovative product and really get it out there. We are very confident about the future.”

The Enterprising Barnsley programme is run by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

It is supported financially by the European Union and has attracted £2,259,511 investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development, through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Enterprising Barnsley .