Poeton Industries Limited is an engineering business that helps customer improve wear resistance, corrosion resistance and electrical resistance through surface treatment of metals and composites. The company is established 125 years ago and has 3 sites in Europe: England, Wales and Poland.
Interview with James Poeton-Bridgens, Commercial Director at Poeton Industries.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
James Poeton-Bridgens: Poeton Industries focus is on Commercial business (Automotive, Oil & Gas, General Engineering, Manufacturing) and Aerospace. Geographically we are concentrating on expanding our Polish facility significantly to better serve our European customers with high quality products and fast turn around times.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
J.P.B: Our R&D facility based in the UK constantly focuses on innovation. Some recent products that we have launched are: An electrically resistant coating for aluminum in the Automotive industry, a hard wearing frictionless coating for packaging manufacture and Chrome replacement technology for Aerospace.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
J.P.B: Poeton Industries offers a variety of coatings from Anodising to Zinc Nickel and thermally applied plasma coatings.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
J.P.B: The general surface treatments markets is growing steadily and has benefited from the rebound in Civil Aerospace and a very strong Automotive market. Brexit has created some significant challenges with cross-border work so businesses with pan-European operations will benefit. At a macro level there is a growing trend for businesses’ to near-shore manufacturing for multiple reasons including supply chain and quality issues.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
J.P.B: Poeton Industries is leading innovation in the EV and Battery market through the development of a unique, electrically resistant coating that can also prevent wear and corrosion in lightweight metals. We have also developed a process to design and create an innovative heat transfer product for the energy sector using plasma spray technology.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2022?
J.P.B: 2022 has started off with strong growth and we expect this to continue as businesses look to consolidate supply chains down to a few robust & reliable suppliers. Commodities are expected to be a challenge as demand remains strong but supply suffers significantly due to geopolitical and logistical issues. This will present an opportunity to companies that are agile and well funded. Poeton Industries is looking to expand its European facility in Poland significantly in order to help our customers become more agile, producing products quickly and of a higher quality than their competitors.
