Member Article

New Investment Keeps Foster Industrial on the Road

Premium welding supplier Foster Industrial has invested £100,000 in the upgrade of its vehicle fleet, to meet the demands of its growing customer base and increase its reach across the East Midlands.

The improved, more sustainable fleet of three vans and two gas lorries offers better fuel efficiency and greater reliability, allowing Foster Industrial to deliver urgent parts and orders and extend its servicing and repair service over a much wider area.

Anthony Ashford, Operations Director at Foster Industrial, said, “We have a reputation for providing reliable and efficient customer service and we need a vehicle fleet that allows us to deliver on this. Our customers rely on us to respond swiftly to urgent call outs and repairs and provide a reliable aftersales servicing package.

“We may operate in a traditional industry in many respects but as a firm we are constantly improving, constantly moving forward and we are always looking for ways to offer added value.

“Investing in these newer, more efficient vehicles brings benefits all round. It allows us extend our quick response service and grow our footprint across the East Midlands. And not only are we reaching greater numbers of customers, we are getting to them faster.”

The outlay forms a part of the firm’s strategic growth plan. Relocation to a new 15,000 sq. ft. site in Shepshed in 2011 was a springboard for growth, providing greater access to its customer base and additional space to grow into. Since then, investment in new hardware and software and the appointment of new staff in sales and operational roles has seen turnover consistently increase. With a growing customer base that includes the region’s top manufacturers, in sectors ranging from transport and aerospace, through to agriculture and shop fitting, Foster Industrial is aiming for a turnover of £4.5 million this year (an increase of almost 30 per cent year on year).

Foster Industrial is the UK’s longest established distributor of welding and cutting equipment and supplies and technical support to manufacturers across the East Midlands. The family run business, established in 1886, stocks over 7000 products. It is one of the largest suppliers of industrial gases, welding, cutting and abrasive products from leading international brands including Hypertherm, Miller, EWM, Oerlikon, Tyrolit & Sia Abrasives.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Greenwood .