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Hill & Smith galvanised by US

Infrastructure specialist Hill & Smith is on target to meet forecasts and its order book remains strong
November 16, 2012

Hill & Smith's (HILS) focus on galvanised steel motorway crash barriers and other niche infrastructure products around the world has kept trading strong since the half-year. Demand for galvanised steel was firm in the US as the electricity grid is updated and the worldwide demand for power drives Asian growth. Hill & Smith's plants in China and Thailand are at full capacityat least until the first quarter of 2013.

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Trading is tougher in the UK as overcapacity in the water utility sector depresses profits, but Hill & Smith expects road work to be stronger next year as a number of schemes start after the London Olympics hiatus. Investment in new galvanising plants in the US, and plants in France and Asia resulted in net debt rising £4.2m, to £93.3m by the end of October.