HEAVY rain failed to dampen the spirits at the recent Layher Open Morning event, held at the system scaffold specialist’s Livingston depot.
A great turnout gathered to hear presentations from Layher’s senior leadership team, learn about the latest product innovations, and see first-hand demonstrations of the firm’s solutions in action.
Heath Brown, Layher UK’s regional sales manager north, opened the event by introducing the team and explaining about some of the products on display, including the Keder XL roof system, the new FW System, HD Beam, platform stairs, FlexBeam, TwixBeam, and Universal Base solutions.
Layher UK MD Sean Pike then gave a presentation, where he spoke about the company’s core values and played a stirring video documenting many of the projects which have benefited from the company’s products through the years.
The final presentation came from Layher brand ambassador Des Moore, the former chief executive of TRAD Group, who charted his own journey specifying the products during his career and outlined some of the major benefits which customers can obtain by investing in system scaffolding.
After a short break, visitors were treated to product demonstrations and had the opportunity to ask questions and take a closer look at the many innovations set up in the yard.
The Livingston event was one of a series of Open Mornings held by Layher around the UK this summer.
“The idea is a rolling roadshow from all of our depots because it’s not often that you can speak to a large cross-section of clients in one go,” Sean Pike told Project Scotland. “It’s an opportunity to meet a lot of people at once, and also introduce new products, solutions and components that customers have probably not seen before.”
Sean Pike revealed that the open days had given some members of the Layher team the chance to meet customers face-to-face for the first time. He highlighted the benefits of this in helping to develop closer personal relationships, which aligns perfectly with Layher’s four S’s of Service, Support, Solutions and Supply. The events also offered a unique opportunity to see and touch the products in a live setting.
“We’re a practical industry, with touchy-feely products,” Sean Pike added. “These people are all practically minded and they want to get hold of the product at the end of the day. That’s not achievable over Teams.”
The products on display included the award-winning TwixBeam, FlexBeam, and AGS Systems. Layher’s latest innovation, the FW System – which is shortlisted for Product of the Year at the upcoming NASC Awards – was also a highlight. The system comprises only four components and boasts a span capability of 22 metres. It is described as ideal for applications requiring rigid facilities, including bridge repairs.
“With all of our innovations, the core product is Allround,” Sean Pike continued. “With a few additional components, customers can… enter other fields of business – bridges, civil engineering projects, pedestrian bridges, public staircases, temporary roofs. It’s all about the integrated products.”
Sean Pike described the current market as ‘very good’, highlighting the recent cut in interest rates, slight easing of the cost-of-living crisis, and the long-term certainty of a new government as all combining to help get projects underway.
“A lot of projects are now more readily available and, being based all around the UK, we see it all through the UK, which is encouraging,” he added. “Our customers see that. Housebuilding is a big market for us. We’re doing a lot of training courses for that market.”
The Scottish market is described as a ‘key part’ of the Layher UK business, with plenty scope for further expansion north of the border. The company has a 10-strong team in Scotland and is currently recruiting for a third engineer. There is space to expand in Livingston as and when required.
“A major driver of this open day is to promote our Scottish business, because it contributes to a quarter of our total turnover,” Sean Pike added. “That’s quite a large chunk, and it’s growing. Because it’s growing, we’re investing in it. We’ve got new salespeople, new sales support people, the engineering department is growing, and the building’s increasing in size.
“It’s a strong team to support the clients we’ve got out in the market. And we will upscale as we need to. We’re not afraid to do that.”
