News: Rotherham companies on top at the Sheffield Business Awards

Rotherham company, ESCO Hydra UK picked up the outstanding Business of the Year Award at the recent Sheffield Business Awards.

Organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the awards celebrate and reward the achievements of businesses throughout the Sheffield City Region.

In addition to the top award, ESCO Hydra UK also scooped the Excellence in International Trade Award.

One of Rotherham's most profitable businesses, Hydra Mining Tools International, was acquired by the American ESCO Corporation for an undisclosed sum last year. They employ 139 people with headquarters at Kimberworth, Rotherham, where carbide, mineral cutting tools, toolholders, cutting chains, conveyor rollers and related components are produced.

Their Doncaster factory specialises in fabrication work, producing shearer drums, cutting heads and discs, jibs for cutting chains, and conveyor structure.

Sales were £11.8m in 2010 and the firm saw exports climb to £8.7m, up 65% a year compared to 2008. This was boosted by its Chinese and American subsidiaries and they now win 26.5% of sales from China, compared with 2% in 2008.

Fellow Rotherham company, Sizer Pelleting was also recognised on the night, when their managing director, Roger Pearson, was named as Business Person of the Year.

Templeborough-based Sizer, which is part of the Newburgh group, is an expert in providing pelleting solutions for a wide range of different materials.

The simple process turns difficult to handle materials into individual pellets that, depending on the waste material, can be used for anything from animal feed and fertiliser to biomass fuel for heating homes.

Eastwood manufacturer, CMD Ltd was runner up for Next Big Thing Award for their Footprint system that reduces energy use in the workplace.

Rotherham recruitment specialist, Elevation Recruitment, were headline sponsors for the awards.

ESCO Hydra UK website
Sizer website
Sheffield Business Awards website

Images: Sheffield Chamber

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News: Hydra Mining Tools International acquired by ESCO

One of Rotherham's most profitable businesses, Hydra Mining Tools International, has been acquired by the American ESCO Corporation for an undisclosed sum.

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.

ESCO Corporation, based in Portland, Oregon, is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of highly engineered wear parts and replacement products used in mining, infrastructure development, power generation, aerospace and industrial applications. They operate across the world.

ESCO stated that the acquisition of Hydra Mining Tools supports their global expansion and, at the same time, provides a new range of products for underground mining markets.

Cal Collins, president and CEO of ESCO, said: "We are excited about ESCO's acquisition of Hydra Mining Tools and the synergies and global opportunities that it will bring to ESCO.

"This acquisition opens the door for ESCO into the fast growing Chinese underground coal mining markets and positions ESCO for continued expansion into the established underground coal market in the U.S. and Australia. We will leverage the ESCO brand and our expertise in mining wear parts and solutions to better service our customers."

Hydra Mining Tools International employs 139 people and has their 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.

Sales were £11.8m in 2010 and the firm saw exports climb to £8.7m, up 65% a year compared to 2008. This was boosted by its Chinese and American subsidiaries and they now win 26.5% of sales from China, compared with 2% in 2008.

The sale provides an exit for Paul Morton, the non-executive director of Hydra Mining Tools International, but the executive directors of the business Gordon McShannon, John Warren and John McShannon, will continue to work with ESCO to ensure a seamless transition to the new owner.

The corporate team at law firm Cobbetts advised on the sale and Endeavour Partnership provided legal advice to the buyer.

David Armitage, corporate partner at Cobbetts, said: "The financial support and access to ESCO's global network will enable Hydra Mining Tools International to take its operations to the next level and expand the distribution of its quality mining products.

"Hydra's expertise in underground mining cuttings systems will complement ESCO's leading market position in consumables and equipment for surface mining."

Hydra Mining Tools International

Images: hydramining.com

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News: Rotherham firms in International Track 100

Hydra Mining Tools and Sheffield Refractories, both based in Rotherham, have been named in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 100 league table that ranks Britain's private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.

Now in its second year, International Track 100 is compiled by Fast Track, the Oxford company that researches Britain's top-performing private companies.

At number 67, this is the second year that Hydra Mining Tools has made the list thanks to exports that climbed to £8.7m in 2010, up 65% a year compared to 2008.

The company, 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. The company now wins 26.5% of its sales from China, compared with 2% in 2008.

With 139 staff at headquarters in Kimberworth and a factory in Doncaster, the company had sales of £11.8m in 2010, £8.7m came from International sales boosted by its Chinese and American subsidiaries.

Sheffield Refractories entered the list at 75. They employ 51 staff and manufacture refractory material for clients in Europe and Asia. Refractories are temperature and chemical-resistant ceramics used to line kilns and furnaces. The Dinnington company sells its products to installers in the paper, steel, cement and power industries.

Directors Trevor Staton and Julian Gray bought the operation in 2006 and have expanded in mainland Europe, Russia and Southeast Asia. International sales have increased by 61% a year, from £855,000 in 2007 to £2.2m in 2009.

Hydra Minig Tools website
Sheffield Refractories website

Images: fasttrack.co.uk

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News: Rapid growth companies in Rotherham

The latest rapid growth survey from The Star and chartered accountants, Barber, Harrison & Platt shows that Rotherham has more than it's fair share of rapidly growing companies.

The survey lists the top 30 business in the region based on turnover growth, and features seven companies that are based in Rotherham.

Hydra Mining Tools International is the highest placed Rotherham firm at number eight. The Kimberworth firm's turnover grew by 88% from £6.2m to £11.7m at the last year end.

Earlier this year Hydra Mining Tools made it onto The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 100 annual league table of Britain's top private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.

The company employs 128 people and produce carbide, mineral cutting tools, toolholders, cutting chains, conveyor rollers and related components that are exported to China, America, Australia and mainland Europe.

Other Rotherham companies making The Star's rapid growth survey are Ron Hull Ltd (16th), MWS Joinery (17th), ABS Industrial Resources (21st), United Carpets (25th), Acorn Industrial (29th) and AESSEAL (30th).

Contract manufacturing specialist, The MTL Group (11th) has announced plans to relocate to Rotherham.

Don Gray, a partner with Barber,Harrison & Platt told the paper: "In a business climate that has recently been characterised by a prolonged period of difficult
trading conditions, any company that has managed to grow its top line deserves to be applauded.

"This year's Top 30 have certainly earned their plaudits with more than half of the participants recording at least a 50% increase in turnover in the period under review."

Star Business Monthly website

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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

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