june 09

Qualter Hall, one of the UK's leading heavy engineering companies, has officially appointed us to handle all aspects of their PR and Marketing activity on an on-going basis from May 2009.

Based in South Yorkshire, Qualter Hall was founded in 1860 and has a heritage in servicing the deep mining industry. Over more recent years, the company has diversified its core skills and now employs around 150 people dedicated to mechanical, structural, electronic, electrical and fluid power engineering. Operating through four main divisions; Mining, Hoisting and Transportation Systems; Mechanical Handling; Manufacturing and Hugh Smith Engineering, the company has built up a renowned reputation for providing a unique service in the field of bespoke, turnkey project engineering both in the UK and Worldwide.

As a design agency, Clayton Creative has enjoyed a long established relationship with Qualter Hall that spans almost 15 years in which we have been responsible for the design and production of the company's range of brochures, website and many photographic projects. Our appointment as their PR consultants and also the imminent launch of their new website, which we are also currently undertaking, ties in nicely with the announcement that Qualter Hall has achieved a record order book, totalling £40 million, taking the company through to 2011, a particularly spectacular achievement in light of the current global economic downturn.

Typical examples of projects include:

• Ro-Ro double deck linkspan at Dublin Port
• Two Mile Bend swing bridge for Gloucester South West Bypass
• Radial sluice gates for Leigh Barrier Flood Alleviation Scheme
• Refurbishment of Hull Tidal Barrier
• New Headgear and Shaft Systems for both Shafts at Harworth Colliery
• Architectural steelwork for new 'Great Court Roof' at the British Museum
• Manufacture of Channel Tunnel locomotive superstructures

George Orton, Managing Director of Qualter Hall: "Over the past 5 years, we have carefully invested over £8 million in our company through extending our facilities, acquiring a Ships Press company, uprating our machinery and technology and, of course, in the controlled recruitment of our highly skilled engineers and support staff. All this has been a conscious, strategic decision in order that we remain competitive, particularly with increased competition from overseas. We are clearly delighted that this investment is paying off. From this position of strength, we will continue to move forward with our on-going business plans and objectives and we are now preparing to implement an apprenticeships programme, which we hope will bring additional employment opportunities to young budding engineers and tradesmen of South Yorkshire. Stepping up our marketing and PR activity has an important role to play in keeping our company at the forefront of the industry and we are delighted to have Clayton Creative on board in this new capacity."