Last updated 13:44, Sunday, 18 May 2008

COCKERMOUTH manufacturer James Walker and Co is enjoying the taste of success after a three-year development plan that has boosted the business in more ways than one.

Four years ago the company, which is part of the larger James Walker Group, was struggling.

But after a major turnaround and the adoption of a Survive to Thrive initiative, James Walker and Co is now seeing huge improvements with an increase in both sales and productivity.

Paul Myerscough, managing director, maintains that the recent success of the Gote Brow business is down to lean thinking adopted in both manufacturing and administration.

"As a company we have placed huge emphasis on the customers and our responsiveness," he said.

"We have introduced more new products, cut waste and improved market strategies and internal strategies; all adding value to our customers.

"We've managed to do all this by keeping the people numbers the same."

So successful was the Survive to Thrive initiative, the company decided to embark on another three-year development plan - Turning the Tide.

In this time James Walker and Co, currently in its first year of the new development plan, has seen annual sales grow to £32 million.

And in an attempt to take business to the world wide market offering a world class performance, James Walker and Co will undertake a third three-year plan, Restoring the Pride.

This aims to raise sales even further and push the awareness of James Walker and Co at an international level.

And producing over 300,000 individual products means the company has a unique advantage over many other manufacturers.

The dynamic manufacturing organisation supplies a vast range of products and services to virtually every sector of industry all over the world.

Some of the main products include high performance fluid sealing products, compression packing, valves and gaskets to moulded products such as 'o' rings and seals all of which are supplied to over 100 countries.

State-of-the-art skills in materials technology are central to the business' success. As well as maufacturing products, research, development and product appliation is all undertaken on site.

Mr Myerscough continued: "Our success as a company is very much thanks to our dedicated team.

"Each and every employee has played a vital role in the company's turn around. And to enable us to work together as a team we have all undertaken personal objectives to reach individual goals.

"Our mission is to lead the world in high performance sealing solutions and this is something we are well on the way to achieving but we've made to happen by pulling together."