North jobs saved in Fablink rescue
This outcome secures the employment of over 500 staff Administrator
Chris Pole
AROUND 200 North East jobs have been saved in a rescue deal for metalwork specialist Fablink.
The maker of metal pressings and fuel tanks, among other products, has been bought out of administration in a wider group of pre-packs that have saved a total of more than 500 jobs at the group’s sites across the UK.
Insolvency experts at Interpath Advisory arranged the purchase by Ensco 1 Limited, which will be known as Wharfside Industrials.
Directors at the firm, described as a tier one supplier to big name automotive clients, had looked at a range of rescue measures prior to the administration, including a sale, investment, refinancing and restructuring.
Accounts for Fablink Tank Systems Limited – the Bishop Auckland-based subsidiary of Fablink Group – show recent trading had been hampered by the after effects of Covid, including skills shortages, supply chain disruption and inflation.
The Evenwood operation suffered an operating loss of £533,000 in the year to the end of March 2023, despite record turnover of £26m for the subsidiary.
Within the accounts, bosses said: “Post year end performance has continued to be challenging.
“In particular, certain contracts have run significantly below expected levels whilst the business has continued to carry overhead cost and capacity in anticipation of higher volumes.
“This is a supply chain issue, not a demand issue. The labour market has also remained difficult and has continued to impact margins. We continue to engage with creditors and stakeholders in order to mitigate any business disruption.”
At the time of the accounts’ publication, directors had expected profit margins to return to more normal levels in the current year.
They cautioned that while there were new orders on the books, demand among clients in the offhighway and construction sectors had fallen slightly.
Administrators described difficulties over the past two years in which the group had “suffered from a number of adverse events” which caused liquidity issues.
Those events included delays to grant funding to support relocation to a new site in Wolverhampton and the insolvency of a customer that caused significant bad debt.
Chris Pole, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “Fablink has built a strong reputation over the years for its cutting-edge technology and innovative manufacturing processes, but had faced a number of challenges in recent times that threatened the long-term future of the business.
“This outcome secures the future of the Fablink Group and safeguards employment for over 500 staff. We wish the team all the best as it forges a new future.”
The full list of Fablink subsidiaries involved in the pre-pack deals includes Fablink Limited, Fablink Tank Systems Limited, Streamline Panels and Assemblies Limited, Fablink Group Holdings Limited, Fablink Cab Systems Limited, Fablink Group Holdings Limited and Fablink Toolspec Limited.