Export success brings Royal visit to Helipebs Controls
01 Oct 2016
Internationally renowned, Gloucester-based manufacturer Helipebs Controls Ltd has been recognised for its excellence in export in the 2016 Queen’s Award for Enterprise – the UK’s highest accolade for business success with a visit from HRH The Duke of Kent and honoured guests.
The company, which can trace its roots in the city back well over 100 years, received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2016 this April having grown its overseas sales by 142% between 2013 and 2015.
Helipebs are specialists in the design and manufacture of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders and hydraulic systems, which are used in industrial applications all over the world. Whilst its products may be best recognised within engineering departments, what they enable is much more widely known as they can be found in the tooling used on production of parts for the likes of Jaguar Land Rover and Dyson, clamping together equipment on oil well heads up to 3km under the sea, on testing rigs for aircraft wings and landing gear for Airbus, and for special projects in Formula 1.
The company has achieved such significant growth by extending its product range, continually improving the way that it works and by providing the best bespoke cylinders to its customers, often serving the most rigorous and safety critical industries.
During the visit, The Duke was taken on a tour of the facilities to see the full spectrum of Helipebs capabilities from design through manufacture, test and support and met with Helipebs staff, customers and suppliers along the way.
HRH The Duke of Kent was also able to meet the apprentices that are key to the continued growth of the business.
We are so proud to have been bestowed this very great honour,” says Geoff Davis, Chairman “and to have had such support from the Royal family, the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and so many other local dignitaries.“
“Back in the late 1990s we found ourselves battling cheap foreign imports, and so we decided to innovate high value bespoke products for industries where quality, expertise and communication were valued highly.”
“In the past decade, as our reputation for excellent customer service and precision, quality engineering design and manufacturing has grown, we’ve extended our reach into international markets – whether that’s for ‘off the shelf’ products, or highly bespoke applications.”
The 60-strong team designs and manufactures products for clients in many industries, including offshore oil and gas, aerospace, Formula 1, pharmaceutical, and wave and tidal energy, serving 55 countries around the world including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Norway and the Emirates, as well as the UK.
For more information on BFPA member Helipebs Controls Ltd please visit their website: www.helipebs-controls.co.uk