The Art of Infrared Investment
08 February, 2010
You may have lately read in the trade press about our recent capital spend at Ceramicx – in the form of metal forming and milling capabilities; CNC control and software and other ancillary equipment designed to help us keep hold of our destiny and provide the customer with all of their infrared heating needs. Needless to say, Ceramicx has been delighted with the outcomes and consequences of our investments over the past 18 months.
But make no mistake, any kind of investment is hard won. Not only must value-adding production be altered and even stopped in its tracks; existing methods of doing things will be reviewed and overhauled. Old ways will be redundant – but new ways will do things better. There is also the small matter of cash and purchasing capability.
Over a twelve month window, Ceramicx spent in excess of a quarter of a million pounds, but the fruit of that capital investment was the result of ten years careful management and savings.
The bottom line is that change is often painful but mostly necessary. There’s no sense in arguing with reality since you always lose - 100%. A good investor recognises these factors – and also can develop a 6th sense for the right moment to make that change. Timing is all.
More recently – this year - Ceramicx has seen the need to invest in its marketing; projecting the name, the brand and our products into the trade and local press; onto the ever growing world of the Internet and into the proliferating social media(follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook) that now surround us. This year also sees us travelling the world, presenting and exhibiting , in order to press that message home – and to lay further foundations for our global success.
And right now, Ceramicx faces fresh challenges in its efforts to invest in low energy cost and capability and to instil an awareness of what a low carbon footprint means – locally and worldwide – for the sake of our environment, our customers and our industry.
Investment in my view, is as much as art as a science. Catch the right wave successfully and you’re half-way home.
08 February, 2010
You may have lately read in the trade press about our recent capital spend at Ceramicx – in the form of metal forming and milling capabilities; CNC control and software and other ancillary equipment designed to help us keep hold of our destiny and provide the customer with all of their infrared heating needs. Needless to say, Ceramicx has been delighted with the outcomes and consequences of our investments over the past 18 months. But make no mistake, any kind of investment is hard won. Not only must value-adding production be altered and even stopped in its tracks; existing methods of doing things will be reviewed and overhauled. Old ways will be redundant – but new ways will do things better. There is also the small matter of cash and purchasing capability. Over a twelve month window, Ceramicx spent in excess of a quarter of a million pounds, but the fruit of that capital investment was the result of ten years careful management and savings. The bottom line is that change is often painful but mostly necessary. There’s no sense in arguing with reality since you always lose - 100%. A good investor recognises these factors – and also can develop a 6th sense for the right moment to make that change. Timing is all. More recently – this year - Ceramicx has seen the need to invest in its marketing; projecting the name, the brand and our products into the trade and local press; onto the ever growing world of the Internet and into the proliferating social media(follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook) that now surround us. This year also sees us travelling the world, presenting and exhibiting , in order to press that message home – and to lay further foundations for our global success. And right now, Ceramicx faces fresh challenges in its efforts to invest in low energy cost and capability and to instil an awareness of what a low carbon footprint means – locally and worldwide – for the sake of our environment, our customers and our industry. Investment in my view, is as much as art as a science. Catch the right wave successfully and you’re half-way home.
