Helipebs Controls Ltd has gained a prestigious award having been named as the winner in the category 'Family Business Manufacturing Excellence'.
A member of the Helipebs Group of Companies which was founded in 1922 by Robert McDougall, a Gloucester based cement works engineer, Helipebs Controls was formed in 1968 to produce a range of standard pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders in partnership with the Sheffer Corporation of Cincinnati. Under the stewardship of Geoff Davis, grandson of the founder, the company has recognised that it cannot always compete with low cost imports from the Far East, and has therefore changed direction to concentrate on high value low volume bespoke products for such industries as subsea oil & gas, aerospace & Formula 1 fatigue testing, pharmaceuticals and green energy.
Geoff Davis, Managing Director, says that "to meet the exacting needs of the industries we supply such as subsea oil & gas, Helipebs Controls is required to operate a fully integrated QHSE system, and we are therefore accredited to the BSI standards ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental) and OHSAS 18001 (Health & Safety). This means that the company has full control and traceability over the many exotic materials that are used to produce cylinders that may be in use for up to 25 years in an extreme environment".
During the past 24 months, the Directors have authorized record capital investment to help improve efficiency, reduce costs and improve deliveries. The result has been record home and export sales in 2013, and the current year is predicted to produce further growth both at home and overseas.
The company has a very loyal and established workforce of 70 employees with a turnover of £6M; five employees have completed over 40 years of service and more than half the workforce have in excess of 10 years' service.