Business is booming for our #madeinsandwell Monday star of the week, an Oldbury-based family firm called Latham’s Security Doorsets.

Established in 2008 (and previously known as AJ Steel Doors), Latham’s in Tividale, Oldbury prides itself on supplying competitively priced steel doors for commercial, industrial and residential use, with a large selection available for immediate collection or dispatch.

Now the company can celebrate its tenth anniversary year with great pride. Latham’s Security Doorsets has just undergone extensive building works, making a £500k investment in a new office and 25,000 square feet of warehouse space.

It has recruited additional staff and opened a dedicated hardware shop on its ground floor for its sister company Latham’s Hardware Ltd, working closely with fellow Sandwell supplier A Perry & Co.

The company already supplies an amazing 10,000 doors per year and, thanks to its recent investments, has a forecasted annual growth in turnover of 25 per cent.

One of the team’s challenges for the near future, according to managing director Alex Latham, is to change people’s perceptions about steel security doors being unsuitable for residential use.

“Our range of high security front doors are available in either a flush design or with a Georgian-style six-panel appearance,” he said. “They can be fully customised with various colours and glazing options, so they really do look as good as any composite or uPVC door but with the added advantage of being made from thick gauge steel and with an industry-leading locking system”.

One of Latham’s many strengths is in forming partnerships. The team is proud to work with leading UK ironmongery manufacturer Exidor to supply panic hardware for doors, including panic bars and outside access devices. It has also formed an agreement with the UK’s fastest growing euro cylinder company, UAP, to supply UAP locks with all doors. The sophisticated cylinder technology gives Latham’s doors a further line of defence against attempted break-ins.

The company’s digital marketing executive Emma Robinson said being based in Sandwell offers distinct advantages for Latham’s.

“The close links to the motorway network means we are able to offer a next-day delivery service, and the central location means we are well located to offer a customer collection service,” she said.

Emma told us that Latham’s Sandwell location meant the company was also able to make the most of Albion BID support, which is part of the BID Sandwell scheme.

Here at Think Sandwell we’ve been delighted to see Latham’s Security Doorsets evolve from a start-up business to an established, valuable employer in our borough’s business landscape. We have supported them with securing Black Country Transformational GOLD funding to invest in capital equipment, and seen the team networking at last year’s Sandwell Business Awards and at the Nachural Summer Business Awards. We wish them all the very best for the next steps in their exciting journey.

#madeinsandwell Monday is a celebration of the talent and diversity of organisations within our borough. If you’re interested in being considered for a #madeinsandwell Monday profile and having information about your organisation shared on Think Sandwell and through our social media networks, read this.