Posted to News on 11th Jan 2013, 16:00
SoftStart UK expands staff, expertise and certifications
Steve Hallas has joined SoftStart UK Ltd as Business Development Manager for the North of England, Midlands and Scotland, completing a 60 per cent growth in the sales and support team since June. Previously with Westin Drives, Steve has 25 years' experience working with automation, drives and controls and other electro-technical technologies. He started his career with a traditional apprenticeship and says he is delighted to see manufacturing once again taking centre stage in the economy.
Steve says: "Most industrial sectors are performing well, including areas like textiles which some people were writing off ten years ago. The rush to export our manufacturing jobs to China is over, and if anything the tide is turning back again.
"SoftStart UK's broad product range is a real asset in this environment. We can fulfil most peoples' requirements, as we supply equipment from Hitachi, Hyundai, Delta, PE and other market-leading manufacturers."
Steve says he is particularly excited about the Delta range because it is new to the UK. It is a comprehensive offering, as Delta is probably the world's largest manufacturers of drives and also has complementary ranges of PLCs, HMIs, servos and power supplies.
SoftStart UK offers component sales, site support, training, panel-build, site installation and commissioning and repairs, with in-house knowledge and experience and ex-stock products throughout the UK. It also delivers products into Europe and the Middle East.
Steve's panel and system building expertise is to be put to good use, as SoftStart's Managing Director Stuart Harvey explains: "We maintain our broad market reach by being happy to supply anything from a single small component to a complete system, including ATEX panel solutions.
"We have just won Lloyds inspection approval for a major system for the Middle East. This also certifies us for marine work, of which there is plenty around our head office in Great Yarmouth now that the latest British Waters exploration is looking so promising.
Steve is based in Leeds and when he is not working is likely to be found striding across the Yorkshire Dales with his dog. He is also a keen musician and a few years ago had the distinction of being part of a band that toured Nashville introducing American audiences to the West Riding Blues.
To find out more about motor control and automation from Softstart UK, please go to www.softstartuk.com/.
