Rustons Technology Ltd latest news
March 2008
Sunday Times expects manufacturing comeback in the UK.
The Sunday Times had an article reviewing signs of manufacturing making a comeback in the UK, particularly in specialist areas like outsourcing.
The article covered a number of reports which included statements like:
“Britain’s manufacturers were responding positively to the challenges from China and India.”
“… evidence of a return of some manufacturing activity to these shores from low-cost locations like China. High transport costs, coupled with quality and reliability problems have led to demands from some customers for production to be located closer to home.”
David Houghton (MD of Rustons) commented “This bears out what we have believed for some time that there is a strong place in the UK for specific high-value, cost competitive manufacturing”
Read the whole article here:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article3645059.ece
March 2008
Management buyout ensure growing future for Rustons
In March 2008, Rustons went through a successful management buy-out and re-structuring. This has resulted in significant investment in the company, and a strengthening of our management team.
The entire senior management team have invested personally, and we have strengthened our board of directors with new expertise.
David Houghton, MD of Ruston Technology Ltd (the new name for the company) said “I have been looking to build the management team and get new investment to help us drive forward for some time now. I am delighted that this has been achieved, and I firmly believe that this move will really strengthen us as a company, and our ability to serve our customers even better in the future.”
The picture shows the new Rustons Board of Directors. From left to right:
Robert Sargent – Commercial Director
Chris Ball – Finance Director
David Houghton – Managing Director
Bob Edwards – Sales and Marketing Director
December 2007
“Stranded overseas”
An extensive article in IET magazine (the magazine for the Institute of Engineering and Technology – formerly the IEE) covered issues with companies going overseas for their manufacturing. Particular problems included:
- Little or no understanding of real costs
- Overestimating the benefits
- Compromising on quality
- Costs of managing the overseas organisation
- Not being able to change when other locations become more competitive or transport costs change.
This reinforces the our approach of balanced manufacturing where we select the most appropriate location for each individual component or sub-assembly and combine them together for the customer. It also means the customer only has to deal with a UK based organisation – even though they may be taking advantage of overseas manufacturing benefits.