Blasting media and abrasives supplier Kuhmichel has relocated to new, multi-million pound headquarters after seeing annual revenue reach £13 million.
The Stafford-based business had been operating from two separate sites in Cold Meece near Stone and at Friars Terrace in Stafford.
But now Kuhmichel’s 23-strong workforce has been brought together under one roof at a new 30,000 square-foot warehouse on Astonfield Industrial Estate, in Stafford.
Kuhmichel had been using the site as additional warehouse space after taking over the building in 2016.
But after enjoying years of organic growth, the company has invested more than £500,000 to transform the building into its new base.
It takes Kuhmichel’s total investment in the warehouse to more than £2 million in the last three years.
Owner Rob Scholtens said: “I joined this business in 2005 and took it over in 2008, since then we have just grown and grown organically.
“We started off with three members of staff and revenue of £1 million but now we have 23 employees and are on track to exceed £13 million this year.
“Up until about a month ago, we had separate offices and warehouse space but we wanted to bring everything together.”
The recent investment includes the construction of a new mezzanine floor above the existing warehouse space which now boasts offices, meeting rooms and a break-out area.
A new dispatch office has also been built downstairs as well as a kitchen and toilet block for warehouse staff, while work to construct a new 25-space car park is ongoing.
Rob added: “Kuhmichel is a German-owned business and this is the Ƶ subsidiary. When we first started out, we used to just serve the British Isles from this office but we have grown to a point where we do a lot of export now, particularly to Europe and the Far East.
“Since 2016, we have been hit by the exchange rate and we have had to pass that cost onto our customers by increasing our prices about 10 or 20 per cent, but despite that we are still growing.”
Rob is confident that Kuhmichel’s Ƶ operation will continue to grow – despite him handing over the reigns to a new managing director as he prepares to move to Australia to establish a new subsidary.
He said: “We are starting from scratch over in Australia but my aim is to do what I have done in the Ƶ over there.
“The plan for Stafford is to continue to grow. We have a new management team in place and we are confident that they can continue to achieve around 20 per cent growth each year.
“We have some land behind the existing warehouse space that we can build on if we need to, so there is potential for further expansion in the future.”
Freelance interior designers Olivia Boardman and Sarah Bratt have been commissioned to design Kuhmichel’s new-look office space.
Olivia said: “We wanted to get away from a generic office look and use the industrial theme to create a unique environment for staff.”
Sarah added: “The company has also invested in sit-stand desks to ensure staff are as comfortable as possible while they are at work.”
