The £0.5million investment in foreign markets marks the first step of overseas expansion plans for the company, which will soon be followed by a second office in Egypt and a further presence in the UAE.
Chief executive Ian White said: “This is a major investment of both time and money but we are convinced that it is one that will reap significant benefits for the business and significantly enhance our support to our international client base.”
He added: “In the locations we have pinpointed, the oil and construction sectors are experiencing tremendous expansion and we are extremely well placed to service the boom in demand.”
The company will offer its full range of inspection and testing services through each of its new outlets, including materials inspection, testing, design and supply along with health and safety and a full range of materials handling training.
The Dubai office will be headed up by Barry Mercer, who has worked in the lifting industry for 40 years. Mercer takes on the role of director for Middle East operations. Ghada Talaat will be in charge of the Egyptian operation, as director, backed-up by over a decade of industry and local market knowledge. “Over 20” people will be employed in the two new operations.
In the UK, LBT’s annual turnover is in excess of £18m, employing over 300 people within its 10 UK outlets.
White concluded: “It is our intention to open complementary international offices over the next 12 months. Our short- to medium-term aim is to build an international lifting equipment engineering group of companies and we are already exploring further options in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Kuwait and India.”
