a brief history of the stamford group limited

1843 White, Child and Beney formed to sell textile machinery and accessories throughout the world.

1949 WCB opens sliver can manufacturing unit at Audenshaw, Manchester.

1956 WCB Containers Limited created to develop sales of fibre board materials handling products to textile industry.

1960 WCB Containers Limited acquires Clarence Mill at Stamford Works and starts rotational moulding business.

1961 Injection moulded containers sold by WCB Containers Limited on an agency basis.

1963 Turnover reaches £½ million and 60+ people are employed in Manchester.

1966 Offices moved to present location at Stalybridge.

1968 Turnover passes the magical £1 million. Belgrave Industries Limited acquired. This is the start of the powder grinding business.

1969 Sudlows Carriers Limited acquired.

1970 Clares Engineering Limited, manufacturers of supermarket trolleys and cages acquired by White Child and Beney.

1971 WCB Plastics Limited formed at Winsford to injection mould containers and trade mouldings. Same year WCB Group goes public with London Stock Exchange quotation. By way of a ‘reverse takeover’ listing status gained and the business of Muhlstein North Western Limited. Based at Bootle, this company moves with Belgrave Industries to become BNI (Belgrave North Western Industries) the forerunner of Micropol Limited.

1972 Factory and offices at Oldham Street, Denton, purchased. Factory at Audenshaw closed. Fabricated Products Division moved to Denton, together with WCB Group staff.

Agency obtained from Opto AB of Sweden to sell Triclamp products in the UK.

1974 Guinness Plastics Group makes an abortive attempt at a takeover. Starts with 30% holding acquired via our former bankers (Slater, Walker). Ends with only 46%.

1975 Lignum material developed “in house” at Stalybridge. WCB Extrusions Limited formed.

1976 In January, Guinness had a second shot through the parent company. This time their stake just trickles over 60%. The next three years is spent providing them with good profits and moving towards a wholly owned subsidiary status.

Mailbox Division created for industrial Mail Order.

1979 The minority shareholders sell their shares to Guinness. WCB now producing profits of over £3 million. Total consideration price for Guinness approximately £6.5 million.

1980 Opto AB purchased by WCB Containers Limited.

1981 The Fabricated Products Division of WCB Containers Limited sold to John Hill (formerly Joint Chairman of WCB Containers Limited with John Nugent).

Opto Products Inc. formed in Chicago.

1982 September 30th all the businesses at Stalybridge, i.e. Mailbox, WCB Extrusions, WCB Roto Moulding, Micropol, Sudlows Carriers and Triclamp Division plus Opto AB, Opto A/S, Opto GmbH and Opto Products Inc., purchased from Guinness by Senior Managers. New holding company - The Stamford Group Limited - formed.

Several new companies created, i.e. WCB Mailbox Limited, Lignum Profiles Limited (previously WCB Extrusions Limited), Opto Systems Limited (previously Triclamp Division).

1985 Mouldings International Limited formed to provide injection moulding capacity.

1986 Tower Mill purchased and Stamford Management Services Limited created.

1986 - Mailbox International Limited carry out ongoing major investment in the design, development and manufacture of new injection moulding tools to establish a1990 comprehensive range of materials handling products including The Tower Range, The Stamford Range and Swift Range of injection moulded containers.

1990 Mailbox Mouldings Limited becomes the first UK rotational moulding company to be registered to BS5750 Part 1 for the design and manufacture of rotationally moulded products.

1992 Mailbox International Limited carry out major investment and launch “Medstor”, a comprehensive materials management storage system for the healthcare market.

1993 Mouldings International Limited are registered to ISO9001 for the design and manufacture of injection moulded products.

Micrex Profiles Limited are also registered to ISO9001 for the design and manufacture of thermoplastic extrusions in structural foam and other material types.

1994 H & S Whelan and Sons Limited metal fabricators and power coaters acquired to complement the Group’s manufacturing facilities.

Micropol re-registered to ISO9001 for the design, manufacture and supply of specialist thermoplastic compounds and powders including rotational moulding powders, dipcoating powders and crosslinkable polyethylenes.

All manufacturing companies within The Stamford Group Limited are now registered to ISO9001.

1995 Mouldings International Limited re-registered to ISO9001 for the design, development and manufacture of thermoplastic injection moulded products (including materials handling containers, custom mouldings and IBC’s) and the fabrication and finishing of associated metal framework.

Mailbox Mouldings Limited re-registered to ISO9001 for the design and development and supply of custom rotational and injection moulded products from “Concept to Production” including a range of proprietary IBC’s.

First of two new state of the art 2.2 metre 4-arm Ferry Rotospeed Carousel rotational moulding machines installed to increase production capacity in both volume and size.

1996 New purpose built factory constructed at headquarters in Stalybridge to house three new 1.300 tonne injection moulding machines with robotics and downstream equipment for hot foil stamping and other ancillary operations. This major investment will enable the Group to service large injection moulding contracts and take on more volume moulding business.

2000 Pipe extrusion line commissioned at Tower Mill site.

2006 Production facilities centralised at Stamford Mill site.

2008 Bishop Commercial Holdings Limited acquired as a subsidiary of The Stamford Group Limited. This business has nine filling stations and associated retail outlets in the North East of England.

2009 All Stalybridge based activities fully operational under the style of Stamford Products Limited.

2010 John Nugent (CEO) dies 10/12/10 after severe stroke earlier that year. Frank Stafford replaces John as CEO and serves on Group Board.

The Stamford Group Limited, Bayley Street, Stalybridge. Cheshire, SK15 1QQ, UK

Tel: +44 (0)161 330 6511/7 Fax: +44 (0)161 330 5576

Registered in England 1647353