CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF COPPER TUBE INNOVATION

YORKSHIRE Copper Tube is flying the flag for UK manufacturing with 60 years of innovation and excellence.

The leading supplier of copper tubing, which operates one of the most sophisticated plants in the world, is celebrating six decades of copper tube production at its plant in Kirkby near Liverpool Yorkshire Copper Tube has more than 200 employees at the site and is planning celebratory anniversary events throughout 2010 with customers, staff and the local community. Jack Wallace, UK Sales Director, said: “Advancements in manufacturing methods, sophisticated quality control techniques, and continuous investment are the hallmarks of 60 years of successful production for Yorkshire “There have been many changes over the past six decades but our commitment to ongoing improvement remains the same.” 2010 celebrations hit the road Yorkshire Copper Tube will be hitting the road this year and has already put pen to paper to sign up for three appearances at PHEX, which is held at venues across the country. Information about the company’s wide range of plain, plastic coated and special finish copper tubes, which are suitable for diverse applications such as gas, water and sanitation systems, will be available at the show. A team of Yorkshire’s expert technical staff will also be on hand to talk visitors through the benefits of using copper tube. There will also be competitions and giveaways during the exhibitions where installers will have the chance to win polo-shirts, fleeces, torches, tube cutters, umbrellas and much more. Yorkshire Copper Tube 1864 – 2010 Copper tubing first went into production at Yorkshire Copper Tube’s UK headquarters in Kirkby, Liverpool in 1950, although its roots date back even further. It started life in 1864 as Broughton Copper Co. in Salford, Manchester and in 1934 ICI Metals purchased the company. A decision to build a new, state of the art copper tube mill in Kirkby, Liverpool, was taken in 1948. The first tubes were produced at Kirkby Works in 1950 and the factory was officially completed and opened in 1955. In 1958 Kirkby Works became part of Yorkshire Imperial Metals, initially as a joint venture with Yorkshire Copper Works of Leeds and later under the sole ownership of ICI Metals. Over the next 20 years the factory was extended and money was invested in the latest spinners, presses and other vital machinery. Yorkshire Copper Tube Ltd was set up as a separate company in 1983 and a major factory modernisation programme began three years later, which took seven years to complete. Ownership of Yorkshire Copper Tube Ltd transferred from IMI to KME Group in 2002. Work started on new offices in 2008, as part of a further redevelopment of the Kirkby site and the official opening took place in 2009. Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, opened the building with Domenico Cova, Chief Operating Officer of the KME Group. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Steve Rotheram, also attended the event to unveil the ‘Monument to the Superlambanana’, which is now situated by the entrance of the new building. “Our history is steeped in ongoing investment into our plant, our people and our processes,” continues Jack. “That is why, 60 years after the new factory started producing copper tubes, we are still at the forefront of manufacturing expertise.” -ENDS-

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