Go Furness

Success All Round at Marl

Marl is an excellent example of an Ulverston based company that has grown successfully both in the UK and globally. It started life as a home-based business in Brian Ainley’s garage, originally distributing medical equipment and manufactured safety systems for the chemical industry. Now more than 35 years later, it boasts its own business park here and a satellite business in America. Marl has repeatedly demonstrated that it is possible to live rurally and win massive international contracts with organisations such as Kodak and Amtrak.

Flexibility has been one of the key secrets to Marl’s success. They began moving into the LED industry when they realised that both the telecom and defence industries were using LED products. At this time, the LED colour range was limited to red, green and amber and Marl employed only 9 staff, but by 1989, this number increased to about 40.

They kept abreast of changes in the market and seized every opportunity for growth, change and evolution. One of the most significant market breakthroughs for Marl was securing the contract with Eastman Kodak when darkroom manufacturing plants began to use LEDs as illuminators. Marl began to develop several specific ranges that were used globally in this industry. This led to the realisation of the value of LEDs to produce low ambient light conditions and resulted in Marl securing contracts with London Underground.

Marl kept up with technical advances and when LEDs accelerated in terms of intensity and performance, they moved into the sign and display market used in retail. Optosign was formed in 2000 to design and manufacture LED signs including the Hutchison ‘3’ sign that featured waves of changing colour.

Marl attribute some of their success to the delivery of cutting edge technology that complies with safety conventions and energy efficiency. For example, they were able to meet US railroad safety regulations with a top performing, energy efficient system and won a contract with Amtrak, an intercity rail company operating in 46 States. They now supply lights for each refurbished Superliner dining car as seen in the image.

Continued diversity has also been paramount in the success of the company who now have a team of more than 80 design and manufacturing specialists supplying components to varying sectors. They have recently ventured into the more creative aspects of lighting and technology with architectural projects such as ‘Darkest Muncaster’ where the innovative LED lighting display has enabled nocturnal visitors to enjoy the castle year round and the lights have become an attraction themselves. Not only have they created a most spectacular light show, but they have enabled Muncaster Castle to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting the energy usage by 90%.

Marl have even taken their LEDs to the catwalk with Couture Clubbing, a high end clothing company, where they showcased ‘dresses of light’, the fusion of light and fashion. One of these included a unique helix shaped band wrapped around one of the models which was illuminated with Marl LEDs.

Marl are keen to do what they can to support the community that they have grown up in. They recently demonstrated this with the generous donation of waterproof LED lights on the deck of an Ulverston Lifeboat, Humber Rescue RIB.

They are renowned for providing opportunities to graduates in design and manufacturing, design and development, general engineering, product engineering and sales and marketing. Some of their best employees started straight from school and have learned ‘on the job’. Marl enjoys good relationships with Lancaster University and encourages new recruits. Graham says that there are fantastic graduates in the area and part of his role is making sure he gets the right graduates for each post. One of Marl’s graduate recruits, Harriet Knowles, encourages local young people to have tenacity when applying for jobs in the area, to get a good cv together, submit it and follow it up. Graham agreed with Harriet, and said that one of the key qualities that he looks for in new recruits is passion for the job.

In his dealings with The U.S., Graham has come to realise that his American customers are very interested in our cobbled streets, history, festivals and culture. As part of his first class customer service, he has embarked on a mission to really feature and promote the town. It will be interesting to see how this develops as Graham takes to the streets with his camera! For more information about Marl, please visit the website on www.leds.co.uk. If you think you might have skills that Marl would be interested in, do send Graham a copy of your cv, and remember tenacity!

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Posted by Kay Hebbourn on 19th December.