It was a busy day for Smiley Monroe on Tuesday, 2nd August.
We were delighted to welcome both Lisburn Distillery FC and visitors from one of our key suppliers of conveyor belting - King HYC, Taiwan - to our modern production facility in Lisburn.
During the official photocall to announce our continued sponsorship of the Club and launch of its new Away Kit for the 2011/12 season, Smiley Monroe's Managing Director - Vaughan Monroe - and King HYC's senior managers Alice Pang and Alan Li, took time out from their busy schedule for a quick snap.
Confirming Smiley Monroe as Exclusive Distribution Partner for Ireland (NI/ROI), King HYC added that worldwide, Smiley Monroe is their Number One customer. This means Smiley Monroe will continue to offer all its customers superior service and technical support, with the widest range of quality tested conveyor belts available in the UK and Ireland.
King HYC is one of the world's most advanced manufacturers of fabric rubber conveyor belts for a wide range of industries, including quarrying, mining and recycling.
Smiley Monroe has grown its business with the Taiwanese company over a number of years, strengthening the relationship which is built on quality, sustainability and mutual trust.
Following gradual recovery in 2010, after 2008/2009's economic downturn, Smiley Monroe has reported steady growth in sales and profitability - despite operating in a climate of continuing raw material price increases. With the home market of Ireland still suffering, our current export strategy - set in motion in 2008 - is paying dividends and looks like breaking last year's sales record, bolstered by the rapid recovery of the world's appetite for mobile crushing, screening and recycling equipment, particularly in the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China.
As sole supplier to many of the world's leading manufacturers (OEMs) in this sector - such as Terex, Sandvik, Metso, Atlas Copco, Telestack and McCloskey International - Smiley Monroe is Europe's largest producer of customised 'endless' rubber conveyor belts, consuming many kilometres of conveyor belt - our main raw material - every month.
In June 2011, with a workforce 60% the size it was at the height of the construction boom in 2007/08, Smiley Monroe achieved the highest output in it's 32 year history, satisfying increased customer demand. This result is a credit to our dynamic, highly motivated team - part of a company which has emerged from the downturn wiser and leaner, and whose efficiencies and growth have been realised through better material planning and forecasting, streamlined production systems, tight financial controls, and ongoing investment in marketing, training and the latest equipment.
(Picture by Darren Kidd/PressEye.com - Belfast. Reproduced with permission and thanks.)
