We're a big fan of Town

INNOVATION and evolution have helped one of Colchester’s oldest businesses reach its centenary.

Fläkt Woods, formerly Woods of Colchester, turns 100 years old this month and its directors hailed the company’s history of adapting to offer what customers wanted for its longevity.

Allan Hurdle, managing director of its UK fans business, said: “It’s an achievement to have been here 100 years as a manufacturing company, but it’s 100 years of innovation rather than 100 years old.
  

“We always look at how we can improve our service to our customers, become more integrated with them and look along the supply chain to see how to make ourselves more productive.” The company moved to Axial Way in 2006 from its original site in Tufnell Road, near North Station, in 2006.  Although one-third of its original size, Mr Hurdle said it now employed about 460 workers in Colchester alone. Its good reputation has reached all corners of the world, and it has recently won an ongoing contract to supply fans for the Sao Paolo Metro in Brazil.

Despite its reputation, the company admitted it went through a “crisis” several years ago as it became “complacent”.

The world leader in industrial fans was not delivering to clients on time, but was determined it would learn from its mistakes and soon turned itself around. The secret of its success was a non-blame culture, consulting with staff and customers and measuring performance.

Mr Hurdle said: “The fact of the matter is that our business works because the people are communicating.

“We are proud to state we have been in Colchester for 100 years and we want to stay for the next 100 years through innovation.”

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A Big fan of Colchester celebrates 100 years

CELEBRATING its 100th birthday, it is no wonder that Fläkt Woods has been described as a “beacon” on the industrial landscape.

The Colchester-based company has survived various recessions and always pulled through, just as it has this one, and still remains one of the largest employers in the area.

Many Colchester residents will know someone who has or does work at its site in Axial Way, and to this day, despite the buyouts and takeovers, the global company has retained a family feel, investing in and involving staff – and, most importantly, has stayed faithful to its Colchester roots.

Colchester MP Bob Russell, who officially opened the Axial Way site in 2006, said: “Fläkt Woods is a beacon as a survivor on the industrial landscape of Colchester.

“When we look at the past and the industries we have lost, although Fläkt Woods does not currently employ as many people as it did in its heyday, it is still a major direct employer in Colchester and the fact it has survived is a tribute to its workforce.

“The supply chain also means that several hundred other jobs in the Colchester area are dependent on the company.”

Fläkt Woods’ reputation as an industrial fan manufacturer is known around the world, to ventilate tunnels, buildings, car parks and shopping centres, and it is also making the fans that will be used in Stratford’s Olympic Stadium complex in 2012.

The company knows why it is still a success after all these years, when other manufacturing giants such as Colchester Lathe and Paxman Diesels fell victim to market forces years ago.

Allan Hurdle, the company’s managing director of the UK fans business, said: “We always look at how we can improve our service to our customers, become more integrated with them and look along the supply chain to see how to make ourselves more productive.

“But you have to be flexible in your approach to what you do. We recognise there are a lot of products coming from overseas that are cheaper. To compete in the UK and European markets, we have to offer something more than just a price.”

Established in 1909 by Maurice Woods, Woods of Colchester started making single-phase motors and was employing 100 people by 1937.

The company remained in the Woods family until 1964, when it was bought out by GEC, and was employing thousands of people.

Several buyouts later, the company joined with Fläkt in 2002, forming Fläkt Woods, which was then acquired by Sagard, Barclays Private Equity, ICG and the management in 2007.

But the Fläkt Woods name has stayed put, proving its reputation draws business and profits – the Fläkt Woods group has an annual turnover of 670 million euros.

Originally based in Tufnell Way, near North Station, Colchester, the move to Axial Way brought challenges and revealed fundamental errors in the way the company was operating – not least its slump in delivering products to customers on time.

Bringing in new management and new ideas, the company learned from its mistakes and turned itself around – no mean feat when amalgamating more than 400 staff spread across several buildings to work under one roof.

Introducing a no-blame culture and consulting with staff on changes brought about huge improvements; delivery times improved and so did communication with staff.

In a testament to its pledge to take on employees’ ideas, the firm’s factory floor is laid out in the way suggested by the employees who use it every day.

The recession has hit Fläkt Woods this year. With cheaper goods being made overseas, the company has yet again had to ensure its offering is competitive if not on price, but on service and extras.

Mr Hurdle admitted: “We are not growing like a rocket, but we are holding our own in terms of taking more market share from our competitors, by offering what construction companies require.
“We are building relationships and service and product ranges. We are fortunate that we have an international market.”

With sites in 30 countries and 26 industrial operations, of which Colchester is the second largest manufacturing site, its global presence is well established.
Such is its success in the field, the company has won the Queen’s Award twice for export achievements.

Looking forward, the company is still attracting big business, most recently signing a multi-million-pound contract to supply fans for the next phase of the construction of the Sao Paolo Metro in Brazil.
But like most businesses, the company’s attention has naturally turned to climate change.
“Climate change is something we have to contribute towards because fans are the second largest consumer of electricity. It is up to us to improve the efficiency and reduce consumption,” said Mr Hurdle.

The company already produces energy-efficient products which are selling well around the world, but it is keen to continue this commitment.

He added: “It’s an achievement to have been here 100 years as a manufacturing company, but it’s 100 years of innovation rather than 100 years old.

“Everyone knows of Woods or of Fläkt Woods. Someone in this area has family or friends who has or does work here. We are proud to state we have been in Colchester for 100 years. We want to stay for the next 100 years.”
 
AS employees at Fläkt Woods, they formed a strong friendship.

Now retired, 71 still meet up every week in Colchester as part of the Woods Senior Citizens Club.
Former staff and their spouses regularly enjoy outings, socials and weekly quizzes that keeps the spirit of the old firm alive.
Margaret Roberts, who worked in the works engineering department for 42 years, said: “These are people I grew up with.”

Joseph Mattack worked at Woods for 38 years from 1957, when he started off in the assembly shop. His work repairing air conditioning fans took him across the world, including America, France and Austria, as well as all over the UK.

“What I found with Woods of Colchester was, to me, it was like a family. You could go there in the morning with a problem and no matter what it was – family, work, anything – there was always someone there you could talk to and help you sort out your problem.
“You had your off days, but never once did I not want to go to work. I always looked forward to it,” he said.

About 2,000 people worked at Woods when Mr Mattack was there and he remembered how “the governor” used to inspect the factory floor before workers left each day.
Mr Mattack said: “The governor used to come down to the floor and walk around before we knocked off, and if there were any spare screws on the floor you had to pick them up. You never wasted anything.

“Before we left on a Friday, the work benches had to be cleaned down. There was a lot of discipline. You couldn’t just walk away from your bench.”
Ian Smith was secretary of the Woods Sports Club, a building that seated 700 with a lounge, bars and a sports ground in Keepers Green. The company still subsidises sport and leisure activities for staff.

He said: “We had some big names in entertainment coming to the club. Bruce Forsyth opened the club when it was built in 1972 and Queen played there once, but they weren’t as big at the time.” 

Above article as printed in 'The Gazette' on the 11th September 2009.  Printed with kind permission from Newsquest.

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