Hi °C | Lo °C Big contracts in the USA and the Middle East have meant that Portadown firm Ulster Carpets has bucked a depressing manufacturing trend, employing 25 extra staff to deal with increased demand in export markets.
The Portadown-based firm has also revealed that for the year ending March 31, 2012, turnover rose by 13% to £55m and operating profit before tax was up by 72% to £5m
Nick Coburn, managing rirector, said that the impressive results, against a backdrop of job losses in Northern Ireland firms like FG Wilson, are down to "the outstanding commitment and dedication" of employees.
"Our sales staff in the export markets have earned us a substantial increase in market share, and to support this our staff in Portadown, England and Denmark have worked incredibly hard to deliver for our customers," he said.
"This performance is all the more remarkable given that we are competing in a global market place against mainly low cost labour production, but our enduring competitiveness keeps us ahead."
But he claimed increased red tape was strangling growth.
He said: "Unfortunately the shackles of ever-increasing excessive regulation and bureaucracy placed upon businesses continues unabated," he said.
"This can constrain job and growth prospects but we have adjusted and managed accordingly by simply focussing on the further development and growth of the business through our own endeavours and entrepreneurism."
While Ulster Carpets re-invests profits for the long-term benefit of the company, 10% of the profits are distributed amongst all employees, so that they can share tangibly in the company's progress and development.
The company, through the John Wilson Memorial Trust, also works closely with Action Mental Health (AMH) in Craigavon, to help facilitate its work.
Mr Coburn added: "We have always been extremely conscious of our responsibilities at a local level to the communities immediately around us; particularly the long held establishment of significant employment in Portadown, along with other benefits for the local economy.
"As a company we encourage and support our employees to be active with their charitable endeavours and over the years we have raised substantial amounts of money for many causes."
