Bray bucks trend with Inchinnan expansion

Bray Controls (UK) Ltd, has just completed a £2.2 million expansion programme at its European headquarters in Inchinnan. The works created a larger, more modern working environment with improved customer communications, increased inventory holdings and test capabilities. This comes at a time when the business is enjoying rapid growth, as it introduces new products and expands into new territories.

A division of the family owned Texas-based Bray International Inc, the Inchinnan facility, which is owned by the business, has been increased from 27,000 sq ft to 37,000 sq ft, with the potential for a further 10,000 sq ft to be added to the site in the future. From a staff of only seven when it opened its doors in Scotland in 1990, Bray now employs more than 70 people in the UK. Employees in France, Germany, Holland, Poland, Russia and Dubai, all report into the Scottish-based European headquarters.

Commenting on the Bray Controls investment and company performance, George Crooks, Managing Director for Europe said: “Amidst turbulent times in the economy, we have succeeded in bucking the trend by experiencing rapid growth, most dramatically over the last three years when we have seen our turnover almost double. Fundamental to our achievements has been a loyal workforce, of whom we are extremely proud. We can boast a team of highly experienced people, including those who have been with us since we opened here in Scotland. Several have stayed on past retirement age, and we have a management team almost all appointed through internal promotion. We were delighted to receive a special recognition award from Invest in Renfrewshire due to our policy of recruiting young people from within the local community. That means a great deal to us.”

Success can be attributed to a strategy of targeting specific growing economies and expanding into new markets in the Middle East and Africa. The introduction of new products to an already fully integrated and comprehensive catalogue of valves, actuators and accessories has also helped place Bray at the forefront of the global butterfly valve and flow control market.

The expansion has not only been about creating a facility that is fitting for a European HQ and a great environment in which to work. With speed of response a crucial element of our success, it has also provided the extra capacity that affords a far larger inventory of components as Bray manufacture and assemble to order.

Bray was recently declared Scottish winner of the British Chambers of Commerce Awards for “Commitment to People Development” and “Exporter of the Year ”, and joins the other UK finalists in the National Award for “Business of the Year” to be held in London later in the year.

Bray Controls (UK) Ltd.
Tel: 0141 812 5199
www.bray.com

Published: 5th December 2013