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UK and Ireland

Lisec: Brett Bedford becomes new managing director for the British Isles

Lisec’s UK & Ireland subsidiary has undergone several transformations since its founding by David Clayton in 1987 as a one-man operation selling machines. Gradually expanding to encompass both the UK and Ireland, it became fully integrated into the Lisec brand in 2003. Some of the first customers to place their trust in Lisec still have an important and leading role in the glass industry today.

The passing of founder Peter Lisec in 2009 had a profound impact, leading to a split in operations between machinery and software. In 2017, the new Lisec management brought a renewed focus on machine quality. The reintegration of Lisec Software UK in 2024 led to a more unified approach, benefiting customers with faster response times for support and quotes – finding everything under one roof. Today, Lisec UK & Ireland is engaged in some of the largest projects since its inception in Ireland, Wales and the UK.

The strong team at the heart of Lisec UK & Ireland

Despite changes in the name and structure, many of the dedicated professionals at Lisec UK & Ireland have remained steadfast. The current team boasts long-standing members such as Vinny Kirkland (Service), Gerard “Ged” Smith (Software Sales), John Foster and Stephanie Cutler (Machinery Sales). These four individuals bring almost 100 years of combined experience in the flat glass industry, ensuring a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

From left to right: Brett Bedford, Vinny Kirkland, Ruth Jones, Anthony Auger, Patrick Edwards; in front: Mark Palin.

Lisec

From left to right: Brett Bedford, Vinny Kirkland, Ruth Jones, Anthony Auger, Patrick Edwards; in front: Mark Palin.

Including engineers and software support, the full team currently consists of 19 members, with plans to grow in the coming year. The most recent addition to the team is Brett Bedford, the new joint managing director. He follows Colin Bickley, who leaves his role after almost 30 successful years with Lisec.

Current initiatives and future plans

Several initiatives are underway to enhance operations and customer satisfaction. “Our main focus is to integrate the machinery and software divisions into a single, customer-centric operation,” says Mr. Bedford. “Whether it's a sales opportunity or a breakdown situation, the goal is to ensure our customers are supported quickly and confidently. We’re reviewing spare parts held locally and looking to expand our engineering team to improve speed and coverage across the UK and Ireland. It’s all about making it easier to do business with Lisec, while keeping responsiveness and reliability at the core of what we do.”

Looking towards the future, Lisec UK & Ireland aims to be approachable and supportive, regardless of the customer's size or needs. The focus is on building relationships and supporting customers through every step of their growth. Mr. Bedford states: “I’m looking forward to spending more time with our customers, understanding their evolving needs, and using that insight to help shape the next chapter of Lisec UK.”

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