Wiper firm moves onwards and upwards

Lianne Cooper

18 July 2008

AN INSPIRATIONAL Redditch business has moved further up-market by relocating to a bigger factory premises.
The Hepworth Group, a privately-owned family company which supplies many of the world's luxury liners and high speed trains with windscreen wiper systems, has moved to Merse Road in North Moons Moat to meet the demands of a packed order book.
The group’s 65-strong workforce has already started production in its new home, for which it has signed a 15-year-lease with landlord FormFin Ltd – through business property consultants John Truslove.
Managing director Jonathan Eddy said: “We export up to 70 per cent of everything we make for our customers in the Far East, Europe, and the USA.
“Our order book is full for the next three months and there is work guaranteed as far out as 2015. Output has risen significantly over the last two years and needs to grow even further to meet our customers’ growing demands.
“Our bigger new home at North Moons Moat will make it possible to meet commitments and help us to consolidate our reputation both at home and abroad.”
The family has been in business since 1868 after Mr Eddy and his brother Andrew came to Redditch in 1962 and bought out Dudley Screenwipers.
The group also has a manufacturing unit in Cheltenham.
Mr Eddy added: “We supply windscreen wiper systems that are tailored solutions using the latest technology available.
“They have to perform in the toughest conditions on the planet, for instance on high performance locomotives travelling at hundreds of miles an hour, and large ships sailing through the oceans in severe storm conditions.
“In the maritime field our most prestigious recent contract has been the supply of the wiper systems and six control systems to the liner Queen Victoria."
The Hepworth Group has also supplied wiper systems to the Queen Mary II, Queen Elizabeth I and II, and the Canberra, as well as the Princess line of ships.
The 3,658 sq metre property, which will form the base for Hepworth operations, is a freestanding, single-storey two-bay factory/warehouse with integral two-storey offices, with parking and loading areas.
John Truslove said: “It is clear that establishing itself at North Moons Moat is an important milestone in the incredible story of the Hepworth Group.
“Hepworths are joining international companies such as AT&T Istel, Johnson Controls, UK-NSI Ltd and Kettler (GB) Ltd along with many well known local companies.
“They all value the combination of the green field environment and extreme convenience of the central location provided by Redditch.”

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