County Antrim Trailer Manufacturer SDC have been awarded Northern Ireland’s Top Manufacturing Company at the prestigious Made in Northern Ireland Awards held in Belfast’s Europa Hotel on Thursday night. The privately owned trailer manufacturer was recognised for its ongoing achievements in the manufacturing industry, and the valuable contribution they have made on a local and international scale from their Northern Ireland based production facilities. SDC Trailers is part of the Retlan Manufacturing Group who were named on the Insiders list of Top 100 Manufacturing Companies in 2014.
The Made in Northern Ireland Awards recognise and reward manufacturing companies based in Northern Ireland that demonstrate excellence, innovation and quality in products and services.
The manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland generates annual sales approaching ÂŁ20 billion, directly employing eighty thousand people, supporting production and employment in a wider supply chain and creating jobs and strong communities. A total of twenty three local companies were acknowledged at the event from the medical and life sciences, food and drink, export and manufacturing sectors. Two independent judges from manufacturing trade bodies in Northern Ireland scrutinised the nominations and selected the award winners. SDC will now go forward to compete against the best in the in the National Made in the UK awards.
The company’s Vice Chairman Darren Donnelly who received the award said “We are delighted to have been nominated and chosen for the Manufacturing Company of the Year award alongside some of the industry’s leading companies. SDC have worked hard in recent years to develop our manufacturing facilities in line with market demands, investing in the latest technologies and equipment to provide high quality products and specialist trailer builds. SDC understand our clients' business and logistics requirements, and design products based on their needs.”
SDC Trailers have been serving the road transport and logistics industry since 1978, working with some of the industry’s leading logistics companies and supermarket chains. With four manufacturing plants and over 500,000 square feet of production space, they offer the most modern and efficient facilities in Europe. Having pioneered a number of innovative design features and operational advancements, SDC are widely recognised as the industry leader with a wide portfolio ranging from flat beds, skeletals and curtainsiders to box vans and car transporters.
In 2014 the trailer manufacturer increased their production output by 30% following a number of sizeable orders from local and international markets. Group turnover has also risen sharply, projected to increase by £40 million to £170million for 2014 – 2015. The SDC Group currently employ over 900 staff, having created 300 positions since the downturn in 2009.