Enterprise Ireland
Annual Report and Accounts 2005
Annual Report and Accounts 2005
Butler Manufacturing Services (BMS), a designer and manufacturer of specialist prefabricated waste water treatment products, has achieved long-term steady success in a niche market, despite sector difficulties and global competition. Over the past 20 years, this Longford-based company has had a continuous R&D programme and undertaken a variety of productivity-enhancing activities. As a result, the company exports to 26 countries worldwide and in 2005 it reported a turnover of €3 million.
BMS’ success in 2005 included a marked increase in direct exports to France, the Indian Ocean region and South Africa. The company signed its first sales contract in North China during the Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to China in 2005. The year also saw BMS’ joint venture partner in Canada sell its first two shipments under licence into the United States and saw new distributor opportunities arise in Poland.
This success is a result of product innovation and pro-active initiatives supported by Enterprise Ireland to improve competitiveness and productivity. The company took part in a World Class Manufacturing programme to examine its business processes and efficiencies. Following this, a benchmarking initiative was undertaken to compare the company with its competitors and best practice.
Seamus Butler, Managing Director at BMS, says:
“Benchmarking very quickly highlights areas of your business in which you are doing well and areas in which you are not performing so well. So you can then focus on one or two critical areas where your performance is below par. Benchmarking gave us an immediate focus on areas we needed to improve.”
These initiatives form part of the company’s R&D programme, which operates from a dedicated on-site R&D laboratory with a budget of 7% of turnover. In addition, BMS is actively involved in Technology Transfer initiatives where it identifies routes to markets using third-party manufacturers which operate under its licence. The company also licences-in technology that allows it to increase its product range and, to support its sales and marketing activities, it is participating in Enterprise Ireland’s new International Selling Programme.
BMS employs 34 people in Longford and going forward the company plans to expand its direct and indirect exports and explore new markets such as the Iberian Peninsula and Eastern Europe.
www.waste-watertreatment.com (link opens in a new browser window)
