Family business, Hanbury-Autogil Ltd is an engineering company based in the heart of Newton Abbot on the historical Bradley Lane Industrial Estate. Focusing on building special purpose machinery for the converting industry (whereby differing materials are processed to create a final product) the company takes a clients concept to completion. With its own design team and mechanical and electrical engineers for the build, it is a fast-paced and fascinating field to be involved in. Projects that the company have taken on and completed have ranged from developing fully automated assembly lines for the medical market e.g creating wound dressings to automated coil fed laser cutting equipment for supporting the creation of printed circuit boards.
The company not only create machines for companies based within the UK, but export internationally, with machines worldwide. With engineering contributing to over 26% of the UK’s GDP, the local company is playing a vital role in driving our economy. The company experienced a growth of 35% last year and is set to grow again by the same amount this year. Currently one of the companies many projects is working on a million pound order for a Hungarian company.
The company also has its own in house machine shop which manufactures and builds parts. Such parts are commissioned by various industries, that require exacting tolerances with the company often working to below ten microns. This is often to conform to strict safety standards demanded by sectors such as aerospace and rail.
Trading for around forty years the company has grown significantly, now employing over fifty local people across management, design, manufacturing and administration. Apprentices are an important part of the business and are always recruited locally, with strong links to South Devon College, the areas universities and language schools. Currently the business has three apprentices working on site in design and manufacturing. Managing Director Rob Hanbury says, “Here at Hanbury-Autogil Ltd we ensure knowledge is passed down from experienced, long standing employees and that newer employees are able to give fresh input and ideas on our processes. It is this sharing of expertise that contributes to the best possible experience for customers”.
As Britain prepares for a new future, engineering and technology will play an ever more vital role and Hanbury-Autogil Ltd plan to focus upon supporting the growth of their company through proactive marketing and continuing to support a high level of customer service and quality, whilst working on effective employer engagement to ensure local people are aware of the job opportunities in such a sector.
History of Premises
The premises is steeped in history and prior to it being broken down into smaller industrial units, it operated as Wool Mill, with some parts of the buildings dating back to the early 1700’s. Raw materials were delivered both by the local and South West Farming communities. At the time the farmers fields were literally on the door-step. The boiler house formed the epicentre of the Mill and water was provided directly by the River Lemon to feed the various processes and for steam power to the machines.
Even though this premise has formed part of the companies 40 year history so far, it must now look forward to the future. The Company continues to grow and develop new technology, which is not in keeping with the building’s age, entering an exciting phase which is aimed to be completed by 2020. Their goal is to move into a new dedicated local building which is fit for purpose and will allow the Company to fulfill its full potential in the future.
ARTICLE POSTED IN MID-DEVON ADVERTISER 22ND FEB 2019.