Following successful year-on-year growth, Altham based phenolic tube manufacturers Langtec are creating a dedicated purchasing department which will see them grow their existing success. Langtec are specialist phenolic tube manufacturers as well as suppliers of mica paper, phenolic and glass fabric tubes in various resin systems, plus processed laminates in phenolic and glass.
Accrington, February 2013: Langtec have been manufacturers and suppliers of a wide range of Carbon Fibre Tubes, electrical and thermal insulating materials in sheet, processed to drawing and tubular form for over fifty years, and 2013 sees the company expand as a dedicated purchasing department is implemented.
Langtec Carbon Fibre tube products are sold throughout the world to a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, transformer, heavy electrical, friction drive, switchgear, cryogenic, textile, welding, domestic appliance, voice coil, antenna, heating, element, defence and construction.
‘We supply Lantex glass and composite Tubes for mechanical strength, rigidity, toughness, low density and dimensional stability,’ explains sales manager, Lee Parnell. ‘We also manufacture Lantex paper and cotton fabric tubes for electrical insulation and mechanical strength as they’re lightweight, easily machinable and possess close concentricity. Filamic tubes and sheets made from Muscovite and Phlogopite micapaper are also used for high voltage, high temperature and high frequency applications.’
Founded in 1958 and based in Altham, Accrington, Langtec has grown to become one of the leading suppliers in carbon fibre tubes, and this year will be expanding as a dedicated purchasing department is implemented. 2012 saw the company to make some positive changes internally which has contributed to the expansion of this Lancashire manufacturer in 2013.
‘We began working closer with an existing customer on new profiles and shapes other than rounded tubes, which in turn will enable them to make significant savings,’ explains fibreglass tube supplier, Lee Parnell. ‘Creating different shapes for bespoke orders allows us to utilise our extensive technological facilities to fulfil the standards set. Our considerable experience and knowledge ensures complete co-operation and assistance from initial enquiry to finished component. We are happy to work closely with our customer’s design departments and offer advice on materials and processes to ensure that the most efficient – and economical- solution is found for the application.’
A management buy-out in 1998 saw Langtec invest in modern technology to ensure that they can respond to meet the demands of customers, providing high quality, affordable products and an attentive, prompt and thorough service.
‘Our machine shop is equipped with CNC lathe, CNC milling and traditional machining facilities for precision finishing of parts in engineering plastics and other non-metallic materials,’ says Lee Parnell. ‘Providing the material can be stamped or machined, we can almost certainly provide the shape and finish required.’
The online presence of Langtec also saw an aesthetic change as the company website received a much-needed overhaul.
‘We had our website revamped in 2012 with a newer, fresher look to allow potential customers worldwide to see the quality service we offer and better exhibit the vast array of composite tubes and products that we have available,’ says Lee Parnell, supplier of fibreglass tubes. ‘We have provided more copy on the new website detailing the range of products that we manufacture and discussing the processes in much greater detail. Langtec’s reputation has traditionally been one of quality as emphasised by our ISO 9001:2000 accreditation, MOD approval and U.L. (Underwriters’ Laboratories Inc.:U.S.A.) approval for many of our products, and it is essential that potential customers are aware of our high standards.’
‘In recent years, the company has extended our commitment to quality to include competitive pricing and efficient, reliable service. Our reputation rests on our ability to offer a total quality package to our customers.’
Trading to an international marketplace with fifty staff at the Altham base, the supplier of carbon fibre tubes has received the Queens Award for Export Excellence and the year-on-year growth experienced so far has enabled the Lancashire-based company to expand by formulating a dedicated purchasing department.
‘Our new purchasing department will be responsible for acquiring the materials necessary for our manufacture needs and industry demands, so we can consistently provide the most competitive prices to our customers,’ says Lee Parnell, supplier of composite tubes and Mica sheets. ‘This will also provide local employment too as we will be recruiting new employees for these roles in 2013.’
