Lichtgitter UK, a key player in the UK market for steel and GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) flooring, is rapidly establishing its unique identity as a business defined by flexibility, adaptability, and ambitious growth. Following a significant move to a spacious new facility in Norton Canes, the company is embracing a future where the sky truly is the limit.
A New Era of Efficiency and Capacity
After 30 years in smaller premises in Bloxwich, Lichtgitter UK's Managing Director, Alec Grice, recognised the business needed room to grow. The transition to the new, purpose-built site has been transformative.
“We feel that any sort of barrier that there may have been, has now been lifted,” Steve Grainger explains.
The new facility offers vast space, allowing the business to operate with significantly higher efficiency. The old 'Tetris puzzle' of moving stock in a limited space is gone, replaced by an organised layout that streamlines the entire process, from material storage to fabrication, packing, and despatch.
Steve notes: “We’ve got much more room to store material... everything’s laid out. You can easily find the right product. Pick it as needed for an order (or fabrication) . Complete the order. Load the vehicle.”
This operational flexibility is the foundation for Lichtgitter UK’s offering: bespoke fabrication and specialised material solutions.
Bespoke Fabrication and Product Versatility
While Lichtgitter UK is part of a multinational German company, the UK team excels at providing highly customised solutions for a diverse range of applications.
“Everything we make is unique to an application,” Steve confirms.
Customers approach Lichtgitter UK with complex needs, such as a catwalk high in a warehouse roof, a fire escape staircase, or an access platform at an energy facility. The team's expertise involves sizing panels exactly to specification, precision fabrication (including cutting around pipework or building columns), and welding to ensure the final product is safe, compliant, and structurally sound. This positions the team as experts whose advice is frequently sought during the design process.
Lichtgitter UK’s strength lies in offering a dual-product philosophy: both traditional steel and the fast-growing GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic). Steel flooring, known for its strength and durability, is fully recyclable, typically used in high-strength areas. GRP offers an alternative option. It’s inert nature makes it ideal for corrosive, non-conductive, and flame-risk areas, where it can potentially last 20-40 years.
“We always offer the right product for the application and environment,” Steve notes, “working closely with customers to find the right solution” He emphasises that the growing GRP sector offers great potential for the company, and often compliments traditional steel flooring.
Teamwork and Brand Awareness
Steve highlights that the success of Lichtgitter UK is rooted in the team environment. “Everybody’s pulling together as a team... we all have different strengths, skills and backgrounds and we compliment each other. And that’s what makes a great team.”
The company's focus is on raising brand awareness, particularly ensuring customers associate Lichtgitter UK with GRP as well as their traditional steel offering. The dynamic combination of local fabrication expertise, international support, and a dual-product philosophy is set to significantly boost Lichtgitter UK’s profile.
“The sky’s the limit really...” concludes Steve, encapsulating the enthusiasm for the journey ahead.