Robert’s firm comes of age

A DESIGN engineer who has worked on projects as diverse as motor gantries and portal frame buildings is celebrating 21 years in business.

Robert Lees, who trained as a mechanical engineer, set up Lees Consulting Engineering Services in 1986, becoming incorporated two years later.

Working from his home in Royton, he took on projects which end up in countries around the globe, including China, America, Australia and India and he travelled to France and Trinidad on behalf of clients.

His first client, after going it alone on leaving paid employment, was Oldham firm G Corner Ltd, and he still undertakes work for the engineering group 21 years down the line.

He served his time at a number of Oldham engineering businesses, including Cobden Chadwick, MCM Conveyors and Seddon Atkinson before setting up the business which, in its heyday, had eight engineers on the books.

As the manufacturing climate declined, so did the order book and Mr Lees, now 59, is back working on his own.

He told me: “I have had some great times and worked with some wonderful people and companies.

“Some of the projects have been fascinating. I recall designing a piece of equipment which made wire which coiled around pipelines to maintain internal temperatures in extremely cold climates.

“That was innovative and definitely my most satisfying contract.”

He is currently working on projects for a Salford manufacturing business and on a pharmaceutical solution for a North Manchester company - and he doesn’t envisage retirement for a few years yet.

“I thoroughly enjoy what I do and I hope to keep going for a few years yet. I am still winning new clients and i still get excited by the challenges. As more and more engineering and manufacturing companies look to cut their overheads in these challenging times, I can offer a bespoke service that had stood the test of time,” he said.