News: Hydra Mining Tools in International Track 100

Rotherham engineering firm, Hydra Mining Tools International, has been named as one of Britain's top private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.

In its inaugural year, The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 100 annual league table ranks firms on their compound annual growth rate in international sales over the latest two years.

Hydra Mining is ranked 44th in the UK and 2nd in Yorkshire with international sales increasing by 75% a year from 2007 to £7.3m in 2009.

Hydra Mining Tools and its predecessor, Hall & Pickles Tool Company, have been associated with mining activities since the earliest days of mechanisation. Following the collapse of the British coal industry, the company has refocused on supplying its specialist cutting tools to China.

Coal miners in China use Hydra Mining Tools International's cutting head to extract coal, without excessive dust and danger of explosion.

Chief executive Gordon McShannon and management bought the firm from receivership in 2000 and expanded internationally, opening Chinese and American subsidiaries and selling to Australia and mainland Europe, supplying customers such as mining giant BHP Billiton.

The company employs 128 people with the headquarters at Kimberworth, Rotherham, where carbide, mineral cutting tools, toolholders, cutting chains, conveyor rollers and related components are produced.

The Doncaster factory specialises in fabrication work, producing shearer drums, cutting heads and discs, jibs for cutting chains, and conveyor structure. In addition a wide range of general machining activities, plate rolling, profile cutting and press work facilities are contained within this site.

Hydra Mining Tools International website

Images: hydramining.com