It is reported that Midland Steel Traders is defying the downturn in the construction industry by winning global customers for the huge machinery parts which are shipped to mining and quarrying companies all over the world.

The GBP 14 million turnover firm, which employs around 85 staff, has benefited from the exchange rate and the popularity of British-made products with mining companies in former colonial countries in Africa.

A GBP 1 million order won last year for a further 12 buckets from Hitachi Construction, to be shipped to Dubai and Spain, has kept MST busy throughout this year.

Mr John Whitehall MD of MST said that "The high spec bucket division has been going for 10 years now and it has grown enormously. We started by producing the heavy duty rock buckets and we are getting more enquiries for the mining buckets. Most are exported. They usually go out of the Tyne or Immingham, where they are shipped to Holland and then worldwide from there."

He added that "The biggest two have been for dredgers which are currently in Australia and Brazil. The buckets are designed in house by Brian Coulson. They are bespoke and designed to the application. This is heavy engineering and fabrication to the right design, it is all done to their specification."

Mr Rory Whitehall sales director of MST said that "Our business development is the internet. About two years ago we started the mini max department doing rubber treads for diggers and mini diggers. Over time, we have put money and effort into it. Now that is a big% age of our yearly average at over GBP 1 million a year. We are getting undercarriage export orders more and more people are wanting to come to the UK because of the pound against the euro. We are doing a lot of online pushing that’s the big development for us, especially for next year."

(Sourced from www.nebusiness.co.uk)