Business for Sale Overview:
The business was established in 1940, and following a Management Buyout by the current Owners since 2003, this business is one of the UK’s leaders in product testing, product design and development. Capable of working across the full range of industrial and consumer products – metals, plastics, rubber, sealants and adhesives – excluding testing on animals and humans, this very high caliber organization works very closely with its Clients across all sectors to develop high performance products and systems to improve their turnover and profitability. It is particularly well known within the Aerospace, Construction, Manufacturing, Automotive and Marine sectors.
This business undertakes a full range of testing to meet all requirements – climatic, environmental and tack testing right through to salt spray or heavy rain. As well as its standard tests, this business is frequently involved in designing ‘novel’, bespoke testing methods to meet the specific requirements of a product and its use. Priding itself on its ability to think ‘outside the box’ in order to develop innovative and unique testing methods this business is often involved in building specific machines or rigs to simulate or accelerate usage either using the Client’s facilities or those of its own.
This business firmly believes in not only meeting Client expectations but exceeding them. As a result, its quality of service is no less impressive. This business’s philosophy of ‘Intelligent Testing’ means that a customer doesn’t just receive a pass or fail certificate at the end of the process as some laboratories offer, but it feeds back at every stage of the testing process, ensuring that valuable development time and resources aren’t wasted. And it doesn’t stop there – with its excellent product design and development skills this business is in the best possible position to suggest appropriate remedies should a product fail. Not surprisingly this business can boast a whole array of loyal customers including some of the largest corporations in the world, particularly within the automotive and pipeline sectors.
Committed to innovation, it is perhaps within the product design arena where this business stands apart from the competition. With a clear understanding of manufacturing processes and Chinese manufacturers in particular coupled with an almost unparalleled ability to interpret European and Overseas Standards and regulations this business has all of the skills and capabilities to create new products and new materials, frequently assisting in the re-design of product lines to meet the necessary standards.
This is a unique business specializing in the development and enhancement of industrial and consumer products. Seeking investment to take this business on to the next stage and capable of handling almost anything, this business has enormous potential. It should appeal to an existing testing facility looking to extend their presence in the sector, a major manufacturer looking to secure their own product testing, design and development resource or alternatively a private investor seeking involvement in the development of product ideas and early technologies.
For more information regarding this listing please contact us by completing the "Contact the Seller" form below. We look forward to hearing from you.
Property Features and Assets:
The premises are leased with 12 years remaining and break clauses every three years. Rent is £9,000 per annum with Rates of £4,300 per annum. The business also sub lets one other unit of approximately 1,200 square feet on a monthly basis with access to additional space available for specific contracts, all on the same site.
The business is re-locatable to larger premises if appropriate however to maintain the key staff resources the relocation would have to be limited to a 10 to 15 mile radius of its current site.
Market Competition and Expansion:
Having been established as a high quality UKAS accredited testing laboratory including product design, technical consultancy and product development for many years, this business operates on a modest advertising budget. There is strong reliance on high levels of repeat business and the most effective form of marketing, recommendation, by word of mouth from previous customers, design companies and design consultancies particularly for projects they themselves cannot do, as well as via referrals from UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) and UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) - testimony to the excellent reputation this business has for its innovation and high quality of service.
What active marketing this business does includes PR – presenting papers at Conferences or writing articles for trade publications. The business is also listed in a number of relevant Directories. It has a Corporate brochure and produces quarterly newsletters which it distributes to an existing and potential customer base. The business also occasionally undertakes legislation based marketing campaigns but its main shop window is its well designed, informative and easy to navigate website which performs very well in all the major search engines for all appropriate search terms.
Reason for Selling:
Owners feel the time is right to seek investment
Additional Details:
- The property is leased.
- The owner is not willing to train/assist the new owner.
- This is not a homebased business opportunity.
- This is not a franchise resale opportunity.
- This is not a distressed business or bankruptcy situation.
Contact the Seller:
To contact the seller of this business for sale, please complete and submit the following email form. The seller or broker will be in touch with you typically within 1-3 business days. Fields with an asterisk (*) are required.