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New Manager for Mesh Maker

Last updated: Thursday, July 13, 2017 - Save & Share

A County Durham mesh manufacturer has strengthened its senior team with a new operations manager.

Expanded Metal CoLee Fleetham has joined Hartlepool-based The Expanded Metal Company – a specialist in the manufacture of expanded metal products.

He will oversee the operations of the company, develop and review strategies and manage process improvement.  His role includes overseeing lean production techniques, managing continuous improvement programmes and developing high-performance teams.

The Expanded Metal Company supplies a wide range of expanded metal mesh products from its 25,000 sqm site in Hartlepool and serves a wide range of industrial sectors, including construction, filtration, engineering, automotive, aerospace and architecture. The Expanded Metal Company also serves the security sector and has its own security range, ExMesh™, which offers a wide range of innovative fencing systems and security solutions.

The company has a rich industrial heritage dating back to 1889 and was founded by John French Golding, the inventor and patentee of expanded metal.

Fleetham has worked in manufacturing most of his career – at Industrial Building Components, a leading door manufacturer and supplier and formerly part of The Expamet International Group, for 10 years from 1988 through to 1998, as a team leader and supervisor.

He then spent 19 years at Expamet Building Products, a manufacturer and supplier of metal building products, initially as production manager before working his way up to a general manager’s post.

He said: “I am extremely passionate about manufacturing and I take great pride in contributing to The Expanded Metal Company’s success and continued development.  It’s especially pleasing to be part of a company which has been part of the North East and Hartlepool’s industrial heritage since the 19th century.”

MD Philip Astley added: “Lee has a fantastic reputation and I am thrilled to welcome him to the business. His depth of industry experience, combined with an innate understanding of manufacturing processes, will prove extremely valuable to our business.”

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