Scottish firm goes into administration after slump in demand for structural steel

Lanarkshire firm Bone Steel entered administration today after 18 months of struggling with low demand and rising debt.

KPMG was appointed receiver following a request from the company directors. Of 118 employees, 113 have already been made redundant today. In 2008 Bone recorded turnover of £28.7m, but debt rose from £2.3m in 2007 to £3m in 2008.

Chris Bone, chief executive at the firm, said: “Demand for structural steel declined by more than 50% in the last 18 months, while challenging conditions in the construction market continued to depress margins and induce project delays out of the company’s control.

“Despite a healthy order intake earlier in the year, contract slippages, volume reductions and supplier credit restrictions combined to make trading extremely difficult. Market conditions are tough for everyone in this sector at present, and we couldn’t see a way forward for the group as it stands.”

According to KPMG, the remaining staff will help with “realising the company’s principal assets”, such as property, plant and contracts. Bone, which was founded in 1938, was one of the largest construction steel firms in the UK and had offices in the Middle East.

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