Carter Engineers: Food is expanding sector for us
12 August 2011
Colin Brown of Carter Environmental Engineers talks to FP Express about his company and its interest in the food and beverage sector
Can you define what Carter Environmental Engineers do in your own words? Carter design and manufacture a wide range of industrial water cooling & air pollution abatement equipment.
When, why and by whom was the company established in the UK? We go back a long way. The company began life as the Midland Heating & Ventilation Company.......... in 1909.
How did the recession affect Carter - if at all? Moderately, thankfully! We diversified by adding the Adiabatic Water Cooler to our range. The Adiabatic removes the risk of Legionella. There is a demand from customers who want an alternative to traditional cooling towers, but we still make those too.
Are you finding the recovery is having a positive effect on your business? We've been around for so long it'd be easy to slip into complacency, but we're very proud of our manufacturing heritage and have learned to move with, and ahead of the game.
How much business does Carter do with the food sector? This is an expanding sector for us, especially for companies in the dairy sector. We also work with a large number of whisky distilleries.
How important will the food sector be to you in 2011 and beyond? Very, especially with those wanting to refurbish rather than completely invest in new. We can work alongside our sister company Franklin Hodge (who manufacture water tanks) to provide a complete service.
Could you elaborate on the UK hierarchy of your company? We are part of the privately-owned Carter Thermal Industries Group, which employs over 800 people, has approximately a quarter of a million square feet of manufacturing space - and a turnover in excess of £65M.
How important are sustainability and 'green' issues to the company? We're constantly looking at how we can modify components to reduce energy and maintenance costs. Our Adiabatic Water Cooler also uses much less water than other technologies.
What is it about your process that distinguishes you from your competitors? We don't compromise on what we make. Top quality is essential. We really do listen to our customers and enjoy getting it right. Everything we provide is custom-built to help our customers, for whom we truly give attention to detail.
What are your thoughts on the importance of investment in the BRIC countries? Our exports are increasing but the main demand at the moment is from the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Could you tell us more about your background in the manufacturing sector? I've followed my father into Carter. He was an apprentice here. Carter's success shows that there's still plenty of demand for good quality manufacturing – and high levels of service.