Widespread restructuring during 2004 at Heywood Williams Group (GB-Huddersfield HD3 3AR; www.heywoodwilliams.com) led to a 64% rise in operating profit to GBP 4.1m (EUR 5.9m) and a 1% increase in turnover to GBP 319m from continuing operations. Profit before tax and exceptional items was GBP 5.3m, compared with a loss of GBP 1.6m in 2003, a year when the group suffered a very disappointing performance in its plastics operation that led to the resignation of the chief executive.

The restructured group now has three divisions: LaSalle Bristol (North America), providing building products for manufactured housing and recreational vehicles; Hardware (UK/Europe), supplying hardware and door panels for PVC windows, doors and conservatories; Plastic Systems (UK/Europe) producing PVC systems for windows, doors and conservatories, and cellular PVC building products. They account for 46%, 34% and 20% of group turnover respectively.

Sales of the Plastic Systems division – split into window systems and building products – fell 16% in 2004 to GBP 64m. Losses increased from GBP 5m to GBP 5.6m, due principally to the closure of the Coldseal business. Annual operating costs have been slashed by GBP 6m, and chief executive Robert Barr said the division now has “a sound operational base.”