A Staffordshire balustrades firm enjoyed a record year in 2020 as its output levels reached the highest to date.
SMART Balustrades, which is based in Burntwood, specialises in the fitting and manufacturing of bespoke glass and stainless steel balustrades, balconies and handrails for the commercial and residential sectors.
The family-run firm reported record months in July, August and November - with turnover up 20 per cent from 2019.
The company recently invested more than £30,000 in a specialist tube drilling machine which will help accelerate production by up to five times.
Now the nine-strong business has further plans for investment in staff and manufacturing in the new year.
David Hough, managing director and co-founder of SMART Balustrades, said: "We couldn’t be happier ending this year with record results for our business.
"Despite the pandemic, we've continued to adapt to the market, offering new products and services such as platform balconies as the demand for outdoor space increases.
"Like most construction-based companies, installation slowed down due to uncertainty onsite, but once social distancing guidelines had been clarified and necessary safety measures were put in place we were back to normal levels of output.
"It's been a different year for everyone to say the least, but we look forward to continuing to learn and grow in 2021 and beyond."
Jonathan Hough, contracts director and co-founder, added: "Being up 20 per cent with our year-on-year growth is an incredible achievement, especially in the current climate and we have ambitious growth plans for 2021 - with a target of 35 per cent further growth.
"Manufacturing remains a key part of our business, and next year we will continue to invest in our equipment and our team to increase efficiency and productivity. The tube drilling machine is a worthwhile investment and throughout 2020 we have invested in systems, accreditations and staff, to put ourselves ahead of the rest.
"Thank you to our brilliant team who have been resilient throughout the year, and our clients who have continued to support us."
