AFTER a year of lockdown restrictions, Britain is on the brink of a staycation boom – and ingenuity is enabling a proud County Durham company to make the most of an opportunity which has emerged from a year adversity.

Family-run engineering firm, Lamplas, is moulding a bright future boosted by an innovative product that’s giving adventure-hungry customers the chance to convert vehicles into their own custom-made campervans, complete with the added convenience of showers and toilets.

Keith Siddle, managing director of the Consett-based business, spotted the gap in the market through his passion for cycling, when he realised how much value his fellow enthusiasts would gain from converted campervans while attending events around the country.

Keith’s ‘lightbulb moment’ led to the company’s latest invention: the Complete Camper Van Bathroom – complete with shower tray, toilet and sink – which can fit into panel vans manufactured by the likes of Citroen, Fiat, MAN, Mercedes, Peugeot and VW.

“Due to the pandemic we are finding lots of people are buying vans and spending lockdown planning their staycations for a time when the restrictions are lifted,” says Michael Gallagher, business development manager for Lamplas.

“Our new product enables them to convert those vehicles into their own campervans, ready to go off on their travels around the country.

“It comes as one complete piece – with no leaks and no seams. Sales have been going through the roof.”

Indeed, sustained innovation has been key to the longevity of Lamplas, which occupies two factories at Castleside Industrial Estate, and last year marked its 50th anniversary as one of the UK’s largest glassfibre, glassfibre composite and solid surface moulders.

The business was launched in 1970 by Keith’s father, Les Siddle, through his love of motorcycles.

The business opportunity he stumbled across was to make fairings – shells that fit over the frames of motorcycles – as well as helmet boxes.

Les started by making his own designs and, when admirers began asking where he’d got them, he soon realised there was money to be made.

Having been founded at Clara Vale, the company expanded into the former Co-op buildings at High Spen four years later, when it launched a new line in gas bottle covers for the UK touring caravan market. The business continued to flourish in the leisure industry with the introduction of multiple components for the caravan and motorhome market, and relocated to a 55,000sq.ft production space in Leadgate in the 1990s.

The company continued to expand in County Durham with the first Castleside factory opening to increase capacity.

By 2007 it was producing a range of wash basins for a large UK bathroom furniture manufacturer. A year later the business acquired a second factory unit next door at Castleside, leading to the Leadgate site being sold and the company going on to launch its own range of bathroom basins.

Today Lamplas has two divisions: the composites manufacture of vehicle components plus shower pods for the static caravan market; and the solid surface casting division – moulding baths and basins for luxury properties, including royal residences.

Like many other businesses worldwide, the Lamplas order book was hit hard by the pandemic in 2020, with a small number of jobs having to be shed, but the company is back to targeting growth again this year.

“We’re definitely looking ahead through 2021 with a renewed sense of optimism and are confident we can really strengthen our presence in the static caravan and campervan side of the business,” says Keith.

“Sales within the staycation market are on the increase as more and more people look at home holidaying. As we’re already well established within County Durham it makes sense that we focus our investment here.”

Both Keith and Michael are quick to acknowledge the crucial support the firm has had over the past few years from Business Durham – Durham County Council’s economic development arm.

This has included securing a Covid Response Grant which was used for a social media campaign to generate sales and support the creation of two jobs in the process.

“The relationship with Business Durham, especially Andrea McGuigan, has been incredibly valuable,” says Michael.

“It wasn’t just about the financial support, but keeping us up to date with what’s happening locally and promoting what we do.

“We couldn’t have asked for more.”

Michael has been business development manager at Lamplas since 2006, but his time with the company goes back to 1980 when he joined straight from school as a fibreglass laminator.

He is a shining example of the emphasis Lamplas places on growing its own talent, underlining why the business is a keen supporter of the Powered by People movement.

Launched by Durham County Council, and supported by a wide range of partners, this initiative puts people at the forefront of promoting Durham as a great place to live, work and do business in.

“There’s a great team spirit at Lamplas – we all pull together – and that’s borne out by the fact that the business has survived some difficult times and is still thriving 50 years after it was founded,” says Michael.

The Covid-19 crisis has undoubtedly brought unprecedented challenges, but it has also highlighted the ingenuity and adaptability that are the hallmark of Lamplas – and so many other County Durham businesses in the same ingenious mould.

• For more information about Business Durham, please visit www.businessdurham.co.uk

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