Commercial aluminium systems specialist LSF Commercial is defying a wider slowdown in the fenestration market, reporting turnover ahead of last year, a growing customer base and a summer so busy it called for ‘significant overtime’ across the factory floor.

While many fabricators report a quieter market, the Essex-based company says it has taken on more new clients this year than in previous periods, with school project work proving particularly strong over the summer months.

Director, Onkar Toot, puts the growth down to the breadth of service LSF offers on commercial projects, from design and engineering through to fabrication and installation, all handled in-house.

“We’re seeing a market where a lot of businesses are quiet, but we’ve had one of our busiest years so far,” said Onkar. “New clients keep coming to us because we can take a project from the drawing board right through to completion ourselves. That’s a difficult thing to offer and it’s paying off.

“Schools projects are unforgiving on timescales,” Onkar explained. “Everything must be installed before term starts. Our overtime this summer reflects just how much of that work landed on our desk, and the trust clients place in us to deliver it on time.”

With 45 staff, thirty years of experience at its Rainham headquarters and recent investment tripling manufacturing capacity, LSF Commercial is said to be well placed to keep growing through both its commercial and trade supply.

“We’ve built a reputation for handling complex, bespoke commercial packages,” said Onkar. “This year has shown that reputation still counts for a great deal, even when the wider market is struggling.”

LSF Commercial fabricates high-performance aluminium windows, doors, fire-rated systems, curtain walling and shopfronts for commercial projects nationwide.