Goodfellow CEO Simon Kenney says this week in The Insider that the company is in a strong position to expand in 2025.

Kenney said: "The investments made last year have given us the platform for further expansion as we head into the new year.

"With a recent upsurge in the key markets we supply, we anticipate growth to come from an increase in organic sales, complemented by strategic acquisitions that broaden our sector reach and technological expertise. 

"Our focus will be on leveraging these platforms and the capabilities acquired through Potomac joining the Goodfellow family to meet evolving customer demands and industry requirements."

Looking back on the company's trading in 2024, the chief executive outlined the year's challenging environment which reflected broader industry trends.

Goodfellow CEO Simon Kenney

He said: "Despite the headwinds, Goodfellow continued to make strategic investments to position ourselves for future growth, investing in a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform to enhance operational efficiency and launching an advanced corporate website with robust e-commerce capabilities to better serve our customers. 

"The acquisition of micromanufacturing specialists Potomac in July expanded our technological capabilities and gave us greater depth in the US, while we refreshed our brand identity to further develop our UK and international market presence."

Kenney added that he expects artificial intelligence to be in the business spotlight, with the rapid development and integration of AI and digital technologies set to revolutionise materials design and manufacturing processes.

"This isn’t a long-term vision, it’s actually happening and we’ve started to explore ways where we can positively build it into our approach," he said. 

"Innovation in nanomaterials and smart materials will continue to underpin the growing emphasis on developing sustainable materials, including bio-based and recyclable options.

"And finally, we predict a major evolution in energy materials, such as those used for batteries and in storage solutions."