Mayor Visits Steel Firm Growing Exports Across Europe

Mayor Ben Houchen has visited a leading Tees Valley steel fabricator to see what they do first-hand and to hear about how recent support has been helping the business to grow.

Katmex Limited, based in Stockton, focuses on providing steel processed parts and fabricated components for medium to heavy industry. It specialises in supplying parts for heavy earthmoving and construction machine manufacturers around Europe, for use in excavators, dump trucks, back-loaders, fork lifts and cranes.

The firm has taken advantage of a Business Compass Energy Efficiency Grant for the installation of LED lighting throughout the site, funded from the European Regional Development Fund. They have also benefitted from practical business support, including an introduction to the Department for International Trade with their overseas promotion and marketing activities.

The company continues to grow and its mission is to become the UK’s preferred supplier of profiled and fabricated components to the construction equipment and heavy engineering sectors.

To further help its growth, Katmex took advantage of £1,500 in Apprenticeship Grant for Employers funding for one apprentice and is signed up to TeesValleyCareers.com, the regional careers service launched by the Tees Valley Mayor last year.

Ben Houchen Tees Valley Mayor said: “Our businesses have a reputation second to none when it comes to engineering and manufacturing, we built the world and we continue to play a major role in so many projects around the globe.

“It’s fantastic to see yet another company from our region taking advantage of the opportunities available to them by exporting, and parts fabricated and engineered right here in Teesside can be found in excavators, dump trucks and back-loaders across Europe and the world.”

David Mitchell, Managing Director of Katmex said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome Ben and to be able to show him around our facility. The level of support we’ve been given is helping us to achieve our plans to become an industry leader in the sector and we are committed to developing our industry’s future.”