Member Article

Lancashire aluminium structures firm enjoying worldwide success

Boldman, a Bolton business specialising in the manufacturer of aluminium structures, is flying the flag for the town across the world with over 50 per cent of its business now coming from overseas sales.

Set up in 1996, the company now employs 22 people in its workshop on the Britannia Way Industrial Estate, shipping its aluminium products to Angola, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, Norway, Nigeria and the USA.

Plans are also in place to see the product exported to Brazil, Czech Republic and Ghana by the end of the year.

The company’s export success comes off the back of two record years of growth, with a reported turnover of £3.5million in the last financial year, up on £1.5million in 2013.

Boldman began as a distributor of the Paletti Aluminium profile system. It remains the UK & Ireland’s only distributor and has attributed its recent success to innovations such as the new transparent glass ballistic test cell, which is revolutionising the oil and gas industry worldwide by making it easier for clients to carry out safety tests on equipment.

CEO Nigel Clarke founded the business at the age of 50. Fast-forward to next year and two significant birthdays will be marked as the company celebrates its 20th birthday and Nigel also celebrates turning 70. Neither Nigel nor the company show any signs of slowing down.

Boldman designs, develops and manufactures bespoke aluminium structures used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical and nuclear. Its export success has come as a result of its expansion into the oil and gas industry for the first time in 2012.

Nigel Clarke said: “We have seen a phenomenal increase in turnover over the last couple of years.

“I believe our continued growth is due to our commitment to new ideas. We strive to find new markets and uses for our products - from the jigs for the building of the Eurofighter to ultra-accurate high definition screens such as the ones at Heathrow, we are pushing the boundaries for the use of aluminium.

“I may be turning 70 next year but I don’t feel like winding down anytime soon. Lancashire has a strong heritage in manufacturing and I’m proud Boldman is doing its bit exporting our products to places like Angola and Nigeria. We are helping to put Bolton on the map”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .