Page 2 - NewsLester Issue 03

INTRODUCTION
WELCOME TO ISSUE 3 OF NEWSLESTERS, OUR BI-ANNUAL AND COMPANY-WIDE NEWSLETTER.
As we approach the end of 2021, a year where we have experienced many challenges including materials delays from overseas and increasing freight costs, I am pleased to report that we are now achieving production volumes above that of the pre-pandemic 2019 period.
This return to higher volume is a direct result of the continual and increasing business from our existing customers, and to that end, I want to thank all our customers for their ongoing support over the past two difficult years.
To help to sustain this increase in production, we have made the decision to move our Head Office and Croydon manufacturing facilities to a larger premises. Fortunately, our decision was helped by a larger 13,126 sq. ft. commercial building becoming available almost opposite our existing premises.
For the rest of 2021, we will still work from our existing premises, with the intention of being fully operational from 4th January 2022. Additionally this year, both Lester Controls and Sarum Electronics, our HVAC controller division, have taken on new employees specifically to support the level of increasing production and customer service.
As already mentioned above and in Issue 2 of NewsLesters, there has been sustained increases in freight charges to date we have absorbed these within our margins. However, for some of our imported materials, the increase in freight costs
will influence our selling prices. I will advise all our customers as and when this comes into effect, it will not affect any orders placed prior to our next price increase announcement.
I would like to thank our R&D team at Lutterworth, who have been developing our next major advance with ALMEGA II, a hall-call destination solution that will allow our controllers to be used in premium medium to high-rise buildings with multiple occupants, across all sectors that require a hall-call system.
As you will read on page 5 of this NewsLesters, evaluation is currently underway of this new Lester Controls hall-call system.
Our order book across the UK and into Europe has remained strong throughout the year and some of the projects we have been involved with are featured within this publication. Again, we have supplied multiple lift controllers for use in the NHS in England, Scotland, and Wales.
At Sarum Electronics, we are now supplying HVAC control panels fitted with highly accurate energy meters that monitor energy consumption, helping customers to opt into the Government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).
In closing, my fellow Directors, Michael Turner, Brendan Johnson and I would like to thank you for your continued interest in our products and business and wish you, your family and colleagues a safe and enjoyable Christmas and a positive 2022.
Stuart Davidson, Group Managing Director
NEWSLESTER Issue 3 :: Page 2