Seema Kennedy, Conservative MP for South Ribble, has visited the manufacturing complex of Leyland-based firm Flexcrete Technologies Limited to learn more about the company’s expansion plans and penetration into global markets.
The company, which manufactures a range of concrete repair mortars, cementitious coatings and masonry coatings from its manufacturing plant on Leyland’s Tomlinson Industrial Estate, was recently acquired by leading global paints and coatings company AkzoNobel which employs approximately 46,000 people in around 80 countries, with a product portfolio including well-known brands such as International and Dulux.
Seema, who has been a Member of Parliament for South Ribble in Lancashire since 2015, and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister since 2017, was taken on a factory and laboratory tour of Flexcrete’s Leyland plant by original founders Graham James OBE and Chris Lloyd, who deal with the company’s day-to-day operations. Seema was keen to learn about Flexcrete’s plans to significantly increase turnover, recruit locally and make further investment in Leyland. Flexcrete currently employs 34 staff and AkzoNobel is committed to a long-term presence on the existing Flexcrete site in Leyland.
During the visit, Seema learnt more about a recent export project, whereby 73 tonnes of one of Flexcrete’s cementitious coatings made locally in Leyland was delivered by air freight to Sydney to meet the special requirements of a major reservoir floor refurbishment project in the Newcastle region of Australia. As well as providing products for the construction and allied industries in the UK, Flexcrete has a global presence through international agents and distributors in 65 countries worldwide.
Graham James OBE, General Manager of Flexcrete Technologies Limited said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome Seema to our production facility in Leyland and to share our aspirations and vision for the future. We have ambitious global growth plans for the Flexcrete range within AkzoNobel and AkzoNobel are very firmly committed to UK operations with recent investments in the UK of circa £100m.”
As part of the acquisition which was announced in July this year, 100% of the shares in Flexcrete Technologies Ltd were acquired by AkzoNobel. The acquisition represented major investment in the UK and the North West in particular, and Flexcrete has benefited enormously from access to AkzoNobel’s Technical Centre in Felling where over 300 staff focus on R&D related activities.