Essential safety could provide a long awaited economic growth

Author : Paul Gay

05 January 2010

The hazardous area industries are looking forward to a happier new year than many other sectors. The green shoots of economic growth that the optimistic commentators have been seeing since the Autumn are certainly getting stronger within the industries supplying the hazardous area. Industry where safety is ensured by legislation keep up investment in plant and equipment and could provide the growth needed to lift us out of recession.

Leuze MLD

Mark Weymouth is managing director of Leuze electronic, which is a typical company serving the manufacturing and process industries where safety systems are not an option. “I think that 2009 was a difficult year for everyone within and serving the manufacturing industries and so I’m pleased to be able to say that Leuze electronic’s had it best ever year in the UK,” Weymouth explained. “We managed to grow our sales and hence increase our market share, although to be honest we are still a long way away from the levels of market share my colleagues have across other European countries.

Weymouth’s comments coincided with the launch of a range of Multiple Light beam safety Devices (MLD), which he believes will further drive the company’s growth as a new design makes the range more competitive than traditional devices. The new products have an innovative design featuring only three beam transceivers, compared to the traditional four, and can therefore be manufactured at a reduced cost while retaining the same quality. The resulting devices have more features and functionality than the ranges they replace giving them an expected competitive edge. There are more details of the (MLD) launch in Products.

The latest Insolvency Index from global information services company, Experian, has revealed a positive picture of British business in its latest report on the number of failing businesses. The report, released last month showed that in November, the number of insolvencies continued to fall while the financial strength of businesses improved.

Rolf Hickmann, managing director of pH, an Experian company, said: “The last four months have seen a fairly low and stable rate of insolvencies, compared to 2008, and certainly compared to the heights reached in the last recession in 1992. In fact the overall picture shows a very gentle decline in insolvencies throughout the year. Furthermore, the latest improvement in the financial health score is the fifth month in a row that the health of businesses has improved.

“Despite the prolonged recession, the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive. The number of micro businesses, those with one to two employees, is growing rapidly. They are enjoying amongst the lowest rates of insolvency and are relatively secure.”

Businesses across Great Britain saw an improvement in their financial strength score from 79.66 in November 2008 to 81.26 November 2009. Furthermore, the rate of insolvencies fell to 0.09 per cent in November 2009, compared to 0.11 per cent in November 2008.