Page 11 - HUB-4 Magazine Issue 86

News
UK Economy poised for
better times ahead
As speculation continues to swirl around the state of the UK economy and the date of the next General Election, information coming from the construction materials and equipment sector suggests that things could be ‘on the turn’.
With inflation dropping and an economic turnaround now popping its head above the horizon, the first signs of growth and recovery are already evident.
Always a reliable bellwether of better times to come, positive movement in construction, in materials supply, and in ancillary services and trades can be another trusted guide.
Amongst a number of positive steps announced in recent weeks was Aggregate Industries’ decision to open supply channels to East Anglia ahead of major projects planned for the region.
Another key supplier whose experiences would appear to echo that view is Metso whose mobile crushers and screening equipment are distributed in the UK by McHale Plant Sales.
Noting what they call ‘an evident desire on the part of major customers to expand and upgrade their crushing equipment inventories’, major names that feature amongst McHale’s signings are some of the leading operators in the UK quarrying and aggregates sectors.
Names include USA, Ireland and UK giant, Breedon, and well- known Welsh contractors Jones Bros of Ruthin. Others are Wordsworth of Barnsley, Cornwall’s Goonvean Aggregates, Gallagher of Maidstone, and Bristol-based Kelston Sparkes.
Confident that the UK economy will continue to strengthen, McHale estimates that the current year will be an improving one across the industry.
In anticipation, their recruitment programme continues, one important capture being their appointment of ex-CRH and Roadstone staffer, James Cliffe as Company Manager UK.
Highly qualified in the field of aggregates and quarrying, Cliffe will operate from their Tamworth HQ where he will have overarching responsibility for all aspects of McHale’s UK operations, a role its chairman, Michael McHale says: “will include on-going contact with all key customers in the Metso owners network”.
www.hub-4.com May/June - Issue 86
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