Cumbernauld-based security fence manufacturer Lochrin Bain, which next year celebrates its 150th anniversary, has defied the credit crunch by landing a £500,000 contract from a UK utility company to supply its patented 'Lochrin Bain Combi' fencing product.

The company is also in advanced discussions with another major utility to secure work over the next four years with a total value estimated to be £12 - £15m. Given that many of its clients are located at various Economic Key Points throughout the UK, Lochrin Bain is prohibited from identifying its clients for reasons of confidentiality.

Having worked alongside certain government bodies to develop a product that would meet strict criteria for securing critical national infrastructures, Lochrin Bain has now launched a unique service to the utility sector whereby it audits the work undertaken by security firms that install its specialist palisade fencing. This new service is delivered via Grangemouth-based Systechnia.


Lochrin Bain Managing Director Ian Kerr said: "As a fence is only as good as the person who installed it, we have launched an auditing service in response to government initiatives designed to ensure value for money.

"Our attention is now turning to the U.S.A. where we have a patent pending for the Lochrin Bain Combi, which I hope to have manufactured there under licence. This initiative and other progress we have made over recent years can be attributed partly to the advice we have received from French Duncan Chartered Accountants and, in particular, its managing partner Robert Kerr."

In addition to targeting America, Lochrin Bain is also in discussion with a Spanish company about the manufacture of a specialised fencing product which will be re-badged under the Lochrin Bain banner. However, the firm is intent on securing a greater share of the Scottish market, particularly within the education sector, and is keen to be considered for contracts arising from the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Mr Kerr said: "At present 80% of our turnover comes from south of the border and I have encountered difficulty in securing a hearing from certain local authorities in Scotland which seem interested only in price rather than the lifetime cost saving which our products can achieve. In the current economic climate, I would have thought that the lifetime cost saving of a product would be worthy of some consideration."

(GK/JM)