Monday interview: Brett Simpson, chief executive of Low & Bonar

Brett Simpson has a clear vision of road ahead as firm pursues global expansion. Picture: Contributed

THE New Zealand-born Brett Simpson flags growth in China and the US, and says: '˜I am very happy with the strategy we have in place and the progress we are making'

Dundee was once famed for jam, jute and journalism. But from virtually the beginning of the 20th century it also became known for the company Low & Bonar, which built a highly successful yarns, fibres and fabrics business covering a multitude of applications. Its polymer-created products can be found in textiles that go into the ground to modify its use, perhaps for stabilising a railtrack; the backs for carpet tiles in commercial workspaces; and tarpaulins and car mats.

Nothing stands still, however, and Low & Bonar chief executive Brett Simpson, in charge since 2014, has a clear vision. “We are increasingly a solutions-provider, we are not in the commodities business,” he says. “We are now focused on working with designers and engineers to have our products brought into their production. It also derives a higher profit margin.”

A key strategy of Simpson is to expand Low & Bonar from its core market of mainland Europe, accounting for about 60 per cent of group sales, into fast-growing markets.

He is interested in the potential of China, where the group opened its first factory early this year after having had a small joint venture, and the potential for getting a slice of the considerable infrastructure work that North America (17 per cent of sales) needs.

Simpson says the new plant at Changzhou was expected to reach full capacity by end-2017, generating sales of £30 million a year. A second phase is now being built, doubling capacity by early 2018, with total Chinese investment of £52m.