Stuart Lees, Chief Executive of Latium Plastics, has laid out the future of Ultraframe, two months after Latium's bid became unconditional, and with much of the former PLC's top management now out of the business.

Speaking on 8 September at a press conference in central London, Mr Lees was forthright about Ultraframe's past mistakes, including its strategy of legal action against rivals for patent infringement. He added: ‘The battle for the market is not in the courtroom.’ he said. ‘It's in the marketplace.’

He saw no ‘silver bullet’ cure. A turnaround would be achieved by many small changes that would together provide excellent service from the conservatory roof systems business.

‘When we looked at Ultraframe we saw a business-to-business version of Everest’, said Stuart Lees. ‘A really super business that was clogged up with PLC gunk.’

Ultraframe will not necessarily supply the retail giant Everest that is owned by Latium Holdings, nor will it automatically source its extrusions from HW Systems and Spectus, also part of Latium Plastics. The Latium Group companies operate individually and there are no group discounts.

‘There isn't a group. It is a bunch of individual businesses.’ Stuart Lees continued. ‘Groups don't work because they force you to buy from within.’ However, the Wendland roof assembly and distribution is now being done from Ultraframe's headquarters in Clitheroe, because it has spare capacity. Wendland will remain a separate business in other respects though.

Source

Glass Age