An Inverness manufacturer has broken its record for the number of windows it has made, as it proves its recovery from the housing downturn.
Cairngorm Windows has hailed making 20,000 windows in a year for the first time in its 62 year history.
This beats the dedicated window maker’s previous record, set eight years ago, by 2,000. Managing director David Dowling is now confident they can again hit the 20,000 mark by the end of this year.
“When the global recession hit, and the building industry nosedived, we were down to 12,000 windows in 2009”, he recalled.
“But we regrouped and invested £500,000 on technology to update our manufacturing system, including £250,000 on a computerised saw which has been a major asset.
“The 18,000 windows we produced in 2007, just before the recession, was our record but we’ve now been able to surpass that thanks to a glut of repeat business from the housebuilding sector.
“Many windows in the area are now 30 years or more old and thus need replacing plus we’ve enjoyed a new surge in what we can ‘first fixing’, with people building one-off homes and coming to us to make and fit the windows. They prefer the same company to install them and it’s an area of significant growth.”
Cairngorm, who now employ 100 people and have a £10million turnover, started in Wells Street, Inverness, in 1953.
Operations manager Robbie Benson, who has been 24 years with the firm, said: “I’ve seen great growth in my time here, and then the downturn set us back badly. So it’s great to have been able to bounce back so well with this new record.”
Robbie is a former Clachnacuddin FC captain and one of his Highland League team mates, Gavin Dearie, is production manager.
Mr Dearie, who has 27 years’ service, said: “The computerised saw has made a huge difference. Orders are fed in online from the production office and the saw promptly does the job superbly.”
Mr Dowling indicated that the Cairngorm’s flying start to 2016 and strong forward workbook suggests they have an opportunity to match that 20,000 mark this year.