In 1997 Neoperl acquired Malvern Plastics and in 1999 Neoperl UK was incorporated with Companies House. In January of that year we moved into the building known as Nimrod Works on the new Enigma Business Park and with a small team of just 20 people the company were producing around 15 million flow regulators a year. Now in 2019 we employ over 150 people and produce over 100 million regulators per annum – In 2017 we produced a record 117 million.
Over 20 years we have seen new technology introduced to help us improve our productivity and continue to meet the increasing demands and expectations of our customers and the quality that the Neoperl brand is globally known for.
Over the 20 years we have out grown that first purpose-built facility leading to the purchase of what is now known as Jaeger Works. Whilst all our moulding is still done in Nimrod Works, assembly and logistics are now housed in Jaeger Works together with sales and administration offices. The most recent addition of a new extension to Nimrod Works has enabled us to increase our tool making capacity and improve quality as well as providing us with extra space for production, engineering, R&D and quality personnel.
We have brought in new talent as well as training and mentoring members of our existing teams and have we have actively encouraged apprenticeships. This is key to the future success of our business and we have an excellent example of how this can work. Our Operations Manager, Mike Burton, started with the business as a 16-year-old Apprentice Tool Maker and has progressed through a number of different roles to his current position where he now manages all of the production and engineering functions including toolmaking, tool-setting, moulding, assembly and automation.
Important and memorable milestones:
- 1999 – all 20 employees under the roof of Nimrod.
- 2009 – stage one taking over the one half of the Jaeger Works, assembly and logistics moved to the new building.
- 2009 – 10th anniversary party, 100 attendees.
- 2015 – solar panels added to roofs to help increase our environmental side.
- 2016 – stage two taking over the second side of jaeger and the renovation began.
- 2017 – moved into New Jaeger Works building.
- 2018 – extension to Nimrod is started.
- 2019 – 20th anniversary party with over 300 attendees.
The 20th Anniversary family fun day was arranged by the Social Committee at Neoperl UK, to develop the “family feeling” to the business here the UK.
The Social Committee was formed at the start of 2019 and our first big event to plan has been this 20th anniversary family fun day. We had over 300 guests including employees and their families and a special delegation from Group, Mr Hans Denzler, Mr Oliver Denzler, Mr Tommy Burk, Mr Oliver Meyer, Dr Adrian Walti and Mr Stefan Schicke who came over to help us celebrate this huge milestone event.
Neoperl UK continues to grow and the family fun day to celebrate the 20th anniversary was an excellent opportunity for employees and their families to meet and help strengthen relationships and friendships.
It was decided by the Social Committee that the money raised from the sale of raffle tickets would be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support charity and we have since donated £945.35 to this chosen charity.
At the event, the social committee arranged lots of entertainment for everyone of every age. These attractions were:
- bouncy assault course.
- Superhero bouncy castle.
- Crazy farm activity area.
- Rodeo bull.
- Crazy golf.
- Toxic themed bouncy activity area.
- Laser rifle range.
- Live music.
- Alcoholic bar.
- Hot food van.
- Ice cream stall.
- Sweet and treats stall.
- Ice slushy machine.
- Cakes stall.
- Raffle – with over £1000 worth of prizes.
Headline Figures over the past 20 years
- 20 years in the Nimrod Building.
- Gone from having Nimrod plus several storage units, to having everything on one site.
- Increased from 20 employees to over 150 employees.
- From less than 20 million products in 1999 to 117 million products in 2017.
We asked some of the people who have been with us at Neoperl UK for over 15 years “What is the main reason you have enjoyed working at Neoperl UK for such a long time?”
- Alison Andrews – “It’s been a very interesting journey, constantly evolving, changing, moving forward”.
- Michael Dodd – “Because of the company and its management it is very stable, I feel confident making life decisions. I enjoy the atmosphere and the company ethics”.
- Ann Allen – “everyone has been very friendly and kind, I have always got along with everyone I have worked with”.
- Dawn Woolley – “I have enjoyed meeting new people, and the all the wonderful changes over the years”.
- June Saunders – “the people I have worked with over the years have become family to me”.
- Wayne Crutchley – “it’s a good job, great atmosphere, I’m happy to come to work, it’s been a real pleasure”.
- Carol Fletcher – “a clean and friendly environment that’s close to my home”.
- Jim Barnett – “we are all treated fairly, with good working conditions”.