In profile this month is Longtown-based cabinet and door maker JMT Trade. We spoke to director Philip Tuddenham.
Who is JMT Trade?
We are a family-based manufacturing company, who pride ourselves on quality andservice to all of our customers.
Where are you based?
We are based in Netherby Street in Longtown – seven miles north of Carlisle in Cumbria and junction 44 on the M6.
What do we do?
JMT Trade is a manufacturer of all forms of cabinets, bespoke furniture, PVC-edged doors and cut and edged panels. Our customers are many and varied, including kitchen and bedroom studios and contractors involved in refurbishment or new building. Recent contracts have included: schools,colleges, universities, office developments and hospitals.
Standard carcassing for kitchens and bedrooms can be manufactured in any size to suit particular contracts. All carcases are constructed in 18mm MFC and edged with a 2mm PVC edge to all edges.
We have often been asked why we put an 18mm back on our wall units – quite simply, we feel that the construction of the cabinet is an essential part of a good quality unit and, because we use quality hanging brackets, the weight is not a problem.
All carcasses are constructed using traditional methods, not a cam and dowel – flat-pack put together to sell as rigid – unit, and can always be tailored to suit a particular contract.
The quality of the carcass is enhanced by a quality door range which includes PVC edged doors, vinyl doors and wooden doors which in turn is completed using our own ranges of quality handles: see www.householdhandles.com.
How has the business fared recently?
Many businesses in the industry have suffered in the last few years during the recession, but rather than stagnate we looked at our core business of just supplying the kitchen trade and decided to expand our product ranges to incorporate a broader customer base. This has been extremely successful, hence the variety of contracts, mentioned above.
How do you service your clients?
We do not have a limit to our delivery service, and have customers from north to south of the UK, and recently have made four deliveries to Moscow in Russia. We do not, now, only supply carcasses, we have many door replacement companies and contractors who purchase our PVC-edged doors and panels. We have now expanded the manufacturing portfolio to include toilet cubicles and enquiries are on the increase.
What’s in the pipeline for JMT?
We regularly take on new employees as the business continues to expand. Recently, we took on a new production manager who has helped move the company forward considerably. We have also added new office staff who help with demands and enquiries and sales. We are looking forward to the future and are always looking to better our products and services with new machinery acquisitions on the horizon.
