Lawton Engineering has appointed Kevan Kane as its business development manager.
Kevan has more than 43 years of sub-contractor manufacturing experience. Lawton Engineering is the third company that he has worked for during his career in the SME manufacturing sector.
Kevan’s appointment comes two years after Wardtec was acquired by Lawton Tubes and integrated into the Lawton Tubes group’s precision engineering division, Lawton Engineering.
The engineering side of Lawton Tubes has two bases in Redditch and Poole, in addition to Lawton Tubes’ HQ and manufacturing facility in Coventry. There is also an additional £20m facility set to be built next to Lawton Tubes’ existing Coventry base in 2026.
Kevan said: “This is an exciting opportunity to help one of the world’s leading suppliers of copper tube and fittings grow its precision engineering arm across a range of sectors.
“We are set up not just to be a subcontract provider, but a solutions provider for copper-based infrastructure – whether that is in medical, plumbing and heating, air conditioning and refrigeration, or general industry.
“We are already helping a medical customer to overcome a supply chain issue relating to the infrastructure needed to supply oxygen and anaesthetic to patients – all by our ability to braze, clean and test our parts to meet the highest standards possible to avoid contamination.
“The customer has gone from needing to source different parts of their pipe infrastructure from several providers to channelling all of their needs via Lawton Engineering – and this is the long-term blueprint we are aiming to achieve.”
Patrick Lawton, general manager at Lawton Engineering and a fifth-generation member of the Lawton family, added: “Kevan has an exceptional track record in overseeing the growth of other precision engineering and manufacturing businesses. He is perfectly placed to help us support a range of industries with a solution-first approach for a plethora of supply chains, both domestically and overseas.
“As Lawton Engineering continues to grow within the wider Lawton Tubes group, the business is looking forward to the fresh opportunities that Kevan’s expertise and leadership will bring in the years to come.”