Following the acquisition of Great Yarmouth based manufacturer Stuga by Stürtz Maschinenbau in Germany, the company has now appointed a new commercial & sales director to spearhead ambitious growth plans and take over the reins from Steve Haines, who retires in December this year after a lifetime of service in the fenestration industry.
To say that Steve’s influence in the adoption of automated machinery for the fenestration industry in the UK is massive would be an understatement. Steve was destined for a career in sales very early on: having started his career as an apprentice for aerospace giant Rolls Royce (Engine Division) in the 1960s and a role in general management at a large multi-national, Steve moved into sales in the 1970s. In 1982 Steve began a machinery agency in the fenestration industry (Wegoma UK Ltd) and was MD until 1992. Steve grew the agency to be one of the biggest agencies in the UK and during that period even sold Sturtz cleaning equipment and eventually welding machines.
Steve Haines
In 1992 Steve took over the running of Actual UK and sold their welding and cleaning machines until eventually beginning his career-defining relationship with Stuga in 1999.
Steve initially joined Stuga as a consultant and it is fair to say that Steve’s impression was enormous and positive. “Steve’s efforts single handedly put Stuga on the map and built our brand over the years that followed” says Gareth Green, Stuga’s Technical Director, son of the founder and previous owner. “Steve made the name Stuga synonymous in the industry – customers didn’t buy a machining centre, they bought a Stuga”, Green continues.
Steve can be recognised as being the first person to bring entry-level and cost effective automated machining solutions to the UK fenestration industry, at a time when many factories were using aged semi-automatic machines in very labour-intensive processes.
Steve became a shareholder in Stuga in 2009 and has since steered the company to greater and greater successes, culminating in them being the focus of attention from German-giant Stürtz.
With over 20 years’ experience in senior sales, project and product management roles, new appointment Ed Williams brings with it a wealth of knowledge and experience. Having been responsible for the strategic direction, enhancement and financial performance of a range of products and services in previous roles within the packaging industry, Williams’s track-record will provide a sound base on which to meet the growth demands set out by Stürtz Group.
Ed Williams
“The chance to join the team at Stuga and lead the growth of the business – in particular the re-introduction to the UK & ROI markets of the excellent portfolio of Stürtz machines – was too great an opportunity to miss” says Williams.
The technical fit of Stuga and Stürtz machine portfolios makes for an exciting prospect and will place Stuga in a position to offer a one-stop-shop approach to manufacturers and fabricators throughout the industry, from small startups to large corproates. “The bringing together of Stuga’s well-trusted sawing and machine capability alongside the range of automated systems from Stürtz is a match made in heaven – there is nobody else in the fenestration industry who offers turnkey solutions of this magnitude and scope and it’s a perfect time to apply my 20+ years of experience, as the industry seeks to overcome labour-market challenges and invest more in automated solutions, energy efficiency and predictive maintenance,” adds Williams.
When asked to comment on how Stuga and Stürtz will realise their ambitious growth targets, Williams pointed out: “Stürtz Group have a very simple approach – we have products and services that the industry trusts, coupled with a reputation and service structure on which to support that growth.
“Acquisitions like this can often create doubt in the minds of customers who’ve come to know the Stuga brand over years of working together,” explains Williams, when asked about the reception of the Stürtz and Stuga merger. “But UK customers can be assured by the fact that Gareth has invested his future in in the form of becoming a Stürtz shareholder, and my appointment to ensure local commercial activity is focussed in the right areas of customer satisfaction and reliability.”
For more information about Stuga Machinery Limited click here or for more information about Stürtz click here
