Manufacturing Today Issue - 215 August 2023 | Page 87

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Blackrow Group

For over 40 years , Blackrow Group ( Blackrow ) has been delivering highquality engineering and fabrication services across the globe . Based on a philosophy of collaboration and value , the company provides a range of products and services across various key sectors , such as food , petrochemical , and pharmaceutical . Having undergone a management buyout ( MBO ) earlier in 2023 , the business has provided much more than engineering services for five individuals , three of which started out in the industry as apprentices . For Tony Booker , Managing Director ; Gary Pexman , Sales Director ; Nick Rands , Operations Director ; Luke O ’ Brien , Structural and Piping Director ; and Callum Day , Electrical Director , Blackrow has provided the opportunity to join the board as majority shareholders .

Gary and Nick join us to reflect on the MBO , as well as the history of the business and its current operations . “ We started off 43 years ago as a small engineering company in Grimsby ,” Gary opens . “ We ’ ve evolved a lot since then and now employ over 300 people across a wide range of fabrication , assembly , and installation services .
We can do any type of engineering within any kind of sector
“ We moved to our current location at the South Humberside Industrial Estate in 2000 , and it continues to serve us well . It ’ s a 150,000-square-foot facility with seven manufacturing workshops . It has great domestic and international links ; we ’ re able to reach an international airport in 20 minutes and the UK ’ s largest port in around ten minutes . manufacturing-today . com 87