Hose maker James Dawson emphasises R&D in restructure

Lincoln, UK – Richard Turner, director of technology and innovation, will head up a team of eight engineers committed to R&D as part of a restructure proving James Dawson’s new commitment to innovation this autumn.

The company engineers bespoke solutions for customers including Caterpillar, JCB and Cummins. The new R&D team will work on new products for a variety of current and new markets.

The team will focus on four key aspects: applications engineering, where it will collaborate with customers’ engineering teams to optimise product design; quality systems, to improve product functionality and make manufacturing “leaner”; and materials innovation.

James Dawson will announce further investment in engineering and production facilities in the coming weeks.

Richard Turner said: “It’s a really exciting opportunity both for me and – more importantly – the company, as it shows its commitment to R&D in our market.

Lincoln-based James Dawson & Son – which is a division of the FTSE 250-listed Fenner Group – recently appointed Paul Edwards as its new managing director, with Bill Cox replacing him as sales & marketing director.

Employing more than 300 staff worldwide, James Dawson has its headquarters in Lincoln in the UK and offices in North America, China and across Europe.