Coatings business enjoys strong annual growth

Burscough-based IRS Surfacing Technologies has achieved 25 per cent year-on-year growth in turnover from 2021 to 2023.

The family-run business specialises in ceramic, stainless steel, thermal and bronze coatings and overlay technology.

For the six months leading up to the end of November 2023, growth accelerated with turnover increasing by 44 per cent compared to the same period last year.

And despite a challenging period for the manufacturing sector, current projections for 2024 are estimated to outstrip those of 2023 for IRS, reaching £1.4m.

Growth was strong even during the Covid-19 pandemic, when demand for its services continued to grow and the business made a £30,000 investment into improving its welfare facilities for staff, as well as installing a new office in February 2022 to bolster its customer-facing relations and attract more business. 

Since 2021, IRS has increased its monthly revenue through organic growth and is currently onboarding an average of four new customers a month. The coatings company also recently launched a new website, which forms part of a wider marketing plan to expand its regional platform to a larger customer base.

Rob Berry, Managing Director at IRS Surfacing Technologies, said: “At IRS, quality is what we pride ourselves on, and I truly believe this is why the business continues to do so well. It’s not just quality in our products, but in everything from our staff to service, through to after service."

Founded in 1989 by John Berry, the late father of the current owner, Rob Berry, the business has been supported by accountancy and business advisory firm JS for over 20 years. Within this time, JS has provided taxation and accountancy support to support the coating specialist firm on its growth journey.

James Wood, accounts partner at JS, said: “I’ve worked with Rob for 15 years now, and it has been a very rewarding experience. Rob has been in the industry for over 31 years, and it’s clear to see his expertise translated into the output IRS provides."