We are pleased to keep you up to date and informed of the latest developments and events at Normanton. Please feel free to contact us with any feedback or questions regarding any of the news items below.

Recent Stories

• Normanton Forging ahead through recession
  Despite the current economic mood of gloom we are hopeful of building on the successes and new initiatives of the last year. Our bespoke panel business has increased its customer base significantly and in the modular build sector a new panel construction offering the highest security capability has proved very successful. In the Commercial Vehicle Division, a favourable exchange rate is adding to our export competitiveness and after investing in significant additional capacity the market leading Smoothliner 3 flush door system is now available on greatly reduced lead times and is more competitive than ever. We will also be introducing a new universal locking mechanism, complementary door system and slip resistant flooring range.
  
  
• Normanton pleased with 2008 Hanover CV Show
  Normanton enjoyed a successful week at the Hanover IAA exhibition. Many new contacts were made from around Europe and much further afield, which it is hoped will further support their continued export growth. On show for the first time was a new locking system which allows complete interchangeability of standard barn doors/external locking gear with their Smoothliner 3 range of flush doors, giving common rear frame drilling patterns and thus reduced inventory and simplification of production for the body builder.
  
  
• Smoothliner 3 Flush Doors achieve 32 tonne certification
  Normanton Smoothliner 3 Flush door have achieved the maximum possible stand alone rating under EN 12462 load restraint Type Approval. In tests carried out by Dekra, the doors were certified in three common UK and European formats to the maximum "XL" standard, including the exceptional 32 tonne payload rating, currently allowable in only limited parts of Europe.
  
  
• Export growth substantial for Normanton
  Reaping the rewards of their substantial investment in additional premises, staff and the most up to date high speed automated panel manufacturing equipment, Normanton Laminating, already the UK's leading manufacturer reported substantial export growth from their Commercial Vehicle Division during the last financial year, securing their first order from North America for the acclaimed Smoothliner Flush Door system and with mainland Europe accounting for over 20% of sales. They are hoping to continue this increasing trend over 2008/9, with a currently favourable exchange rate and representation now in place covering most countries across Europe, both West and East.



• Major new investment gives huge increase in capacity and quality
  Normanton's new automated manufacturing line has more than doubled their panel laminating capacity whilst at the same time vastly improving prductivity, manufacturing lead times and providing an improved quality of lamination and panel quality through the use of the very latest high technology adhesive systems.



• New Flush Door Lock Available
  The Commercial Vehicle division are pleased to announce the arrival of the new 2008 flush door lock, manufactured to our own unique design specifically to complement our leading brand Smoothliner Flush Door system. Please contact us for further details.



• Another TUV XL Maximum load restraint certificate
  EN12462 Load restraint certificates are increasingly required by commercial vehicle builders, insurers and end users alike. Normanton Smoothliner 3 flush doors have recently achieved another pass certificate to the maximum "XL" rating, this time on a Lawrence David trailer to be used by the Ford motor company.



• Further expansion for Commercial Vehicle Division
  Normanton have opened two new factory facilities of some 18,000 ft2 and housing approximately 20 staff in Thorne near Doncaster due to substantial expansion of their Commercial Vehicle Division. Door system volumes have grown substantially to the point where it was necessary to implement a permanent increase in assembly capacity to satisfy this increased demand. An increasing share of a resurgent UK market together with substantial export growth into both Western and Eastern Europe as well as America, particularly of the Company's market leading third generation flush door system Smoothliner 3, has been largely behind the growth. However, the growing popularity of their "standard" plymetal Barn Doors, prefitted with seals, hinges and locking gear and even prepainted with Architectural grade powder coating, all aimed at saving the body builder valuable space, assembly and paint shop costs, time and capacity and of course internal lead times, has added to the requirement.