Adding value – what Liniar doubling in size means for our Regional Sales team.

Leading UK systems company Liniar recently announced it is breaking ground on ambitious growth plans, which include doubling the size of its single site extrusion operation in Derbyshire.

We catch up with Group Sales Director Nigel Bishop, who discusses what the expansion means for Liniar’s Regional Sales team and customer base.

Facilitating reliability across the supply chain

“Our Sales team’s commitment to excellence is backed up by the operational performance across our business – it’s all about delivering on the promises we make to our valued customers,” explains Nigel. “We understand that trust is the foundation of any successful, long-term relationship and we take great pride in consistently exceeding our customers’ expectations.

“Having the additional capacity headroom that comes with our brand new 350,000 ft² warehouse and manufacturing facility makes sticking to our word even easier, and this will be seen in a variety of ways that genuinely add value for our customers.”

Nigel continues, “Liniar already has a remarkable OTIF performance record (we’ve delivered orders on time, in full more than 99.4% of the time, every day during 2023!) and the expansion will ensure we can continue to meet our customers’ requirements, even during unexpected spikes or surges in demand. The vast stockholding capacity and operational reliability at Liniar helps to prevent stockouts, delays, and disruptions in service, which can be frustrating both for customers and end users alike.

“This consistently excellent performance supports the reliability and ultimately the reputations of Liniar customers, allowing them to make promises to their own customers confidently.”

Accommodating scalability

Liniar customers frequently aspire to expand their operations and reach new markets in pursuit of greater success, and partnering with a supplier that can facilitate growth can play a crucial role.

On serving as a scalable supplier, Nigel states, “At Liniar, we’re also dedicated to empowering our customers to achieve their growth aspirations. Our customer base spans a wide spectrum, ranging from small-scale producers crafting just a few frames per week to large-scale manufacturers producing thousands. Regardless of our customers’ current operational scale, we maintain a forward-looking approach, ensuring that we are prepared to assist them seamlessly whenever they choose to embark on expansion ventures.

“Effective communication is essential to conveying Liniar’s supplier capabilities and addressing customer needs, so while we’re realising our own ambitious plans, it’s vital the Sales team is kept up to speed with how the project is progressing.

“Our regional team operates across the entirety of the UK, with monthly in-person briefings held at our Denby headquarters. Additionally, they maintain daily communication through various channels with both myself and each other, as well as with the broader Liniar team. As the site work advances, their commitment to keeping customers informed and upholding our well-established reputation for delivering exceptional goods and services remains unwavering.”

The right kind of investment

The expansion will see Liniar’s Secondary Operations team relocated from Cotes Park, Alfreton to Denby. Once completed, the company will be located on a single site of almost 800,000 ft² – which Liniar believes is unique in the UK.

Nigel explains, “This is an exciting time to be part of the Liniar team, with the ongoing investment we receive from our parent company Quanex ensuring we have the highest investment ratio of any UK systems company.

“Crucially, Quanex is a building solutions expert with a deep understanding of the sector and a keen interest in ensuring Liniar remains a smooth, efficiently run business. Recent industry turbulence has shown the detrimental impact that poorly managed suppliers can have on fabricators, installers and entire workforces.

He continues, “Investment in developing Liniar’s single site operations further facilitates our effective management of depreciation, not dilapidation – the latter being the death knell for any business.

“With the company being very well-resourced and managed, the job becomes much easier for our Sales team, as there’s no need to employ ‘hard sell’ tactics. It’s a pleasure to be able to demonstrate our performance capabilities and the additional benefits Liniar can deliver to our customers’ businesses.”

Boosting team morale

Nigel concludes, “Liniar’s stability and security also results in an improved working environment for the 600+ team. It’s widely recognised that teams who can consistently keep promises experience higher morale and motivation, since each member sees their efforts lead to positive outcomes for customers – this means they are more likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and job satisfaction.

“As Liniar’s ambitious growth plans materialise, our whole team’s capacity to fulfil their commitments is strengthened, with a ripple effect that will benefit both our team members and our customers.”

To read more about Liniar’s expansion, see the press release at https://www.liniar.co.uk/news/