Mayor of Wigan Borough Visits Expanding Manufacturing Site in Martland Park

IMAGE SHOWS (Left to Right): Production Shift Team Leader Craig Wilson; Thermoseal Group's Managing Director Gwain Paterson; Mayor of Wigan Borough Susan Loudon; Sales Director Mark Hickox; Production Operative Sam Scrivens Thermoseal Group is a leading supplier to the UK window industry and has set up a manufacturing base in Wigan for production of energy efficient components. This has led to the employment of 50 local staff and further growth of the manufacturing-base to supply to the increasing demand from export markets. Thermoseal Group Wigan is the northern branch of Thermoseal Group Limited, a 35-plus year old business turning over in excess of £26 million. Wigan branch was initially set up for distribution of insulated glass unit (double glazing) components to the North of the UK from a small warehouse in Leigh. This was run with three members of staff back in 1994. As sales grew from Wigan branch, there was a requirement for a larger warehouse, so the site moved to a 20,000 Sq. Ft. building in Martland Park in Wigan in 2008. It wasn’t long before two additional units adjacent to this building were purchased so that the Group could set up a manufacturing site which would produce products for supply to the rest of the UK. In 2010, the first Thermobar Warm Edge Spacer tube (an energy efficient bar used to space the glass in double and triple glazing units) came off the first production line. Five years later and over £5 million invested, Thermoseal Group now manufactures two types of spacer bar – Thermobar (rigid tube spacer) and Thermoflex Warm Edge Spacer (a rubber compound) in a wide range of sizes, colours and box quantities. This has meant the lease of three further units on Martland Park bringing the total building space up to over 60,000 Sq. Ft and the employment of 50 local people to work on the spacer bar production teams. This growth has also lead to an expansion of the Group’s Birmingham-based injection moulding division to supply compatible warm edge energy-efficient components to be used in conjunction with Thermobar and Thermoflex. Councillor Loudon said: “Thanks to Thermoseal Group for the tour around their expanding manufacturing facilities. It was very interesting to see the investment in manufacturing and also in training and developing local people. I am always pleased to support the local business. “I have taken away some samples of energy efficient bars used in window glass units and will show them to my colleagues and local councillors. I look forward to seeing further growth in this business and particularly their sales to export markets.” The Group’s owner and managing director, Gwain Paterson tells us: “We are extremely proud of our accomplishments in Wigan and thankful to the mayor for taking the time to come and see us. It hasn’t been an easy task to set up a bespoke manufacturing site for the production of warm edge glazing bars. Much of the production equipment and training and development on operating the equipment has been developed in-house. This has been a huge challenge for us, but has given us the opportunity to take on staff and train them to our own exacting standards. It is also our policy to put our warehouse and production teams onto ongoing training and development plans to ensure that they continue to grow within the business. It is for this reason that all of our team members are either NVQ qualified, or currently enrolled on NVQ or ILM programs. “Our ultimate goal has always been to grow from being a leading UK manufacturer and supplier into a large international player. Therefore, we are now concentrating our efforts on increasing production and gaining a share of the export market. We have recently received our largest export order to date from a manufacturer in the Far East. We also supply to other customers in United States, New Zealand, Pakistan, Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, Chile, Finland, Netherlands, Estonia, Poland, Italy, France, Hungary and Romania. “We have a multi-lingual export manager based in Germany who is currently targeting the window industry on his home turf, as well as various European markets. He is speaking to some of Europe’s largest insulated glass manufacturers who are very interested in our energy efficient products. With the growth of our export business, we will undoubtedly need to grow our production facilities and we are delighted with the commitment we have received from the staff and contacts we have in Wigan and the surrounding area.” To find out about Thermoseal Group and its comprehensive range of insulated glass components and machinery for glazing manufacture, call +44(0)121 331 3950 or visit www.thermosealgroup.com. For further information on Thermobar Warm Edge Spacer see: www.thermobarwarmedge.com. For information on Thermoflex Warm Edge Spacer visit www.thermoflexwarmedge.com. SAM SCRIVENS Sam (age 23) started working at Thermoseal Group in July 2013 on the Thermobar Warm Edge Spacer Production Team. This is Sam’s first full time employment as his previous positions were temporary agency roles. Like most members of the production team, Sam is currently working towards his NVQ in Production & Manufacturing Operations (PMO). This course is organized and, where relevant, funded by Thermoseal Group. Sam works on the Thermobar lamination lines and is part of the Buddy Training Scheme whereby he works closely with other members of the production team to maximize product output from lamination machines. Since joining Thermoseal Group, Sam has moved into rental accommodation with his girlfriend in Wigan and they have bought a Labrador called Buster. He has also purchased a motorbike to travel to and from work. Sam is currently landscaping his garden. Sam says: “I love working at Thermoseal Group and see myself being here for a long time. I like being part of the team.” Spacer Bar Production Manager, Phil Popple Says: “Sam is a great team player. He is hard-working, reliable, trustworthy and a conscientious member of the team. Everyone loves Sam.” CRAIG WILSON Craig (age 28) is an ex-Rugby player for Widnes and also joined Thermoseal Group in 2013 on the Thermobar extrusion team. Prior to joining Thermoseal Group, Craig was a machine operator on extrusion machinery in the plastics industry so came with some experience. Since joining the Thermoseal Group team he has been promoted to Shift Team Leader and is on a mentoring program with production managers to develop him into a Shift Supervisor role. He has recently attended a training course in Switzerland for operation of new Thermobar extrusion equipment. Only a handful of staff were selected for this training. Craig is also currently enrolling on an NVQ level 3 in Management which will be funded by Thermoseal Group. Craig lives in Hindley in Wigan. He has a four year old daughter called Olivia and is due to be married on 18th July. Craig said: “I am enjoying working at Thermoseal Group. It’s great to be working for such a fast-paced and growing company. It is also a fun place to work. All managers are approachable and relaxed as long as everything gets done. I feel part of a good team of people and I can see a future here.” LEE LEATHERBARROW Lee is a long-standing and enthusiastic member of the Thermoseal Group team who has taken every opportunity to develop into an important role in our Thermobar Warm Edge Spacer Production Facility. Lee supports our spacer bar production manager in ensuring the quality and productivity of the spacer bar. Lee has grown into this role from working as a warehouse operative back in 2001. From day one, he has worked hard and signed himself up for all training and development opportunities. Initially, he completed his forklift truck certification training, followed by and NVQ in Warehouse Distribution in 2004. He then went on to complete a course with our supplier to inkjet print spacer bar. Then, when we set up spacer bar production in 2010, Lee expressed an interest in moving to the production facility. His strong work ethic and commitment was immediately recognised by our production manager and he was promoted to Team Leader straight away. Following this, Lee completed his Chartered Management Institute Diploma, he then went on an intensive 10-day course in Austria to train in the operation of new production machinery in 2012 and was promoted to Production Supervisor in 2013. Lee is one of our champion members of staff. Lee adds “I’m really pleased to be part of such a fantastic team of people. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Thermoseal Group for investing in my future. I can’t imagine working anywhere else!”

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