CHAIRMAN'S
STATEMENT
Universal Engineering Company (Charlestown)
Limited has been in business some 50 years and in stark contrast
to the industry’s downward trend over these years, we have
provided continued growth and employment. Two of our many strengths
are our ability to perform in niche markets and to stay flexible,
despite becoming a larger organisation and the pressures we all
feel from increased competition.
Continued investment in equipment and processes,
plus our demonstration to our employees of their value, has created
a stable and productive workforce. Investment takes many forms,
and Universal Engineering Company (Charlestown) Limited considers
training, clear internal communications and systems as important
as tools and machinery.
The current structure of the company with
its four divisions is providing increased opportunities for them
to trade individually in different markets as well as adding value
to each other. For instance, Technical Services attracts enquiries
from many sectors outside of military and aerospace, the principle
domain of the engineering divisions.
Consumer products, telecommunications,
boat building, automotive industries all require technical support
with software and printed manuals. Our expertise in reverse engineering
and carrying out post design studies is eminently exportable to
many or these markets. Our Line Scan division is one of only a
handful of Kodak accredited document archival companies in the
UK able to offer a comprehensive document copy, conversion and
storage facility.
As well as advanced digital techniques,
we have retained many traditional copying and replication processes
which are still in demand but have disappeared elsewhere. This
has made the division very attractive to larger organisations
with document storage problems and companies retaining or converting
to digital from microfiche and other photographic formats.
Universal Engineering and South Dorset
Engineering divisions historically have serviced different customers
but now share many. There are still a number of skills particular
to each division, but for new customers, the Company defines and
specifies which division provides the required processes.
Core business for both divisions is precision
engineering, for defence, aerospace, telecommunications, power
and exploration industries. Many of the divisions’ skills
are also valuable in vertical markets, so the Company will make
additional resources available as these come on stream.
We believe that by operating these separate
divisions, each with a complementary but different skill set,
the company is able to provide a comprehensive service to our
customers from the engineering and manufacturing industry, plus
the provision of a separate entry point into non-engineering sectors.
By protecting our core business and at the same time looking at
the wider marketplace, we are confident that Universal Engineering
Company (Charlestown) Limited is ready to match the challenges
ahead and continue to provide world class, quality services in
many new areas.
Chairman
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