Rostrevor manufacturing firm flying high
The company has also just been awarded the SC21 Business Excellence Award.
Established in 1996, as a family run business and with only six employees, Bradfor Ltd has become one of the leading aerospace interiors manufacturers in the UK, specialising in dress covers and upholstery fabrics and leather. The company provides seat covers, headrest covers, straps and diaphragms, along with digitising design services to a range of global clients.
Managing Director of Bradfor Ltd, Patricia Clements (above) commented, “Since 1996 Bradfor Ltd has grown exponentially. We now employ over 100 people and export globally, especially to the United States and Canada.
“We have a dedicated team of highly skilled professionals and this extension and new technology for lamination and embossing processes will lead to additional new contracts with a number of customers, some non aerospace, and create six new jobs. It is important that we remain cost competitive and continue to win contracts, competing against low cost countries and this expansion allows us to do just that.
“A special thanks goes to Invest Northern Ireland who have provided important financial support for this current development.”
Bradfor Ltd, an AS9100 accredited provider, was also awarded the prestigious SC21 Business Excellence Award by David Quin of Rockwell Collins, after achieving SC21 Award Silver in B/E Aerospace (now Rockwell Collins) Supply Chain Programme in 2016. They have also received the EFQM 4 star ‘Recognised for Excellence’.
Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland said, “Bradfor Ltd is working in partnership with Invest NI and has benefitted from a range of assistance to develop its facilities and ensure it has the right manufacturing processes in place to be competitive in its target market. The aerospace sector accounts for a large proportion of manufactured exports from Northern Ireland.
“We are committed to ensuring that the local aerospace sector has a supply chain that can grow its capabilities in the high-technology, high-value areas where our industry needs to compete. This investment by Bradfor Ltd signals its commitment to building on its global success. We are delighted to be able to support Bradfor in growing and developing new processes for this sector and look forward to seeing how the business progresses. I’d also like to congratulate the company on being awarded the SC21 Business Excellence Award.”
SC21 is an ADS supply chain excellence programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the aerospace and defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chain. Bradfor Ltd joined SC21 award winning companies, which set the benchmark on business excellence in the local aerospace sector.
David Quin, Supply Chain Director, Rockwell Collins, added: “Rockwell Collins is delighted that Bradfor has achieved this SC21 Business Excellence Award. The SC21 Programme is an integral part of our Supply Chain Management Programme, and we’re very pleased to be able to encourage our suppliers to engage in this national Aerospace and Defence improvement programme. To achieve this accolade is no easy task however Bradfor Ltd has risen to the occasion and shown great commitment towards their continuous improvement along with their outstanding quality and on time delivery metrics.”
Dr Leslie Orr, Manager ADS NI, said: “This is great news for Bradfor Ltd. Achieving the SC21 Business Excellence Award is exceptional and it is great to see the expansion and new technology in this company. I’ve no doubt that Bradfor Ltd will continue to add to the aerospace sector in the region.”
“Achieving the SC21 Business Excellence Award is extremely satisfying for all in Bradfor Ltd. This award is only realised through the exceptional hard work of each and every one of our employees. Thank you,” concluded Patricia Clements.
