One of the oldest names in the vehicle washing business has received a cash injection of £1 million which will reinforce its position as one of the leading forces in the vehicle wash market, not just in the UK but across the globe.
Having survived one of the most brutal recessions in modern times, Smith Bros & Webb has welcomed the cash boost which will act as a springboard for the company to further grow and develop.
With a pedigree spanning back to 1886, Smith Bros & Webb designs and manufactures its own wash equipment under the brand name of Britannia.
It is a name which has become synonymous with quality and longevity and is one which has been at the forefront of the market in providing vehicle washing and controlled emission toilet (CET) systems for over sixty years.
Today the Alcester based company has over 500 installations in the UK in the commercial vehicle, bus and rail sectors, 150 around the globe and a nationwide network of engineers to both install and maintain the equipment.
Innovation has always been at the very core of the Britannia operation and it boasts an impressive product portfolio.
Products such as the Streamline which allows for high speed washing for up to 80 buses per hour - the fastest available in the market, the 'Strong' which is tailored to the CV market offering total flexibility together with its range of municipal vehicle solutions are all designed with the customer in mind and to meet the very specific demands of the market.
In the rail sector, the Britannia train washing system can be designed to accommodate any type of rolling stock and will efficiently wash anything from one single car to up to 200 carriages per hour.
Furthermore such is the expertise of the company, as vehicles change in design, Britannia's engineering team is able to step in to provide a solution to meet the need of the operator. One such example is the recent work undertaken for both London United and GoAhead in redesigning its washing systems to accommodate the new Routemaster 'Boris' bus.
Environmental considerations also feature highly and the company has also developed a water reclamation package which will reclaim 80% of water but more importantly is 100% tax allowable.
Britannia Director Andy Barracliffe commented: "This additional investment comes at a time when the market is once again starting to grow. We are seeing further demand coming from the UK, largely driven by new vehicle design but specifically from Europe and Asia where sizeable investment is being made in the rail networks.
"There is no doubt there are exciting times ahead. Our experience and reputation is unmatched in the marketplace placing us in an ideal position to capitalise on the growth in the marketplace and create a business which is at the forefront of the global vehicle washing marketplace."
With a turnover of nearly £5 million annually Smith Bros & Webb has Britannia washing and CET systems throughout the UK as well as in Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Syria, Iran, Sri-Lanka, Hong Kong, China, India and Australia. Export currently accounts for 20% of sales which Smith Bros & Webb sees increasing substantially over the next 12 months.
Recent overseas sales include the Mumbai Monorail and Metro together with installations in Bangalore , Taiwan and Hong Kong valued at over £2.5m.