Hanson Springs celebrates 50th Anniversary

Simon Danczuk and Malcolm Hanson at the Company’s 50th Anniversary, and the naming of it’s new facility at Gorrell’s Way

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Hanson Springs combined celebrations to mark the Company’s 50th Anniversary, and the naming of it’s new facility at Gorrell’s Way in Rochdale on Sunday 8 September.

The MP for Rochdale the Rt. Hon. Simon Danczuk and Malcolm Hanson the founder of Hanson Springs unveiled the name of the building ‘HAN50N PLACE.’ Also present at the opening were Julie Evans and Carol Hopkins representing the Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Council, Hanson Springs sales staff from South Korea, Italy and the USA and Malcolm’s four grandchildren.

Simon Danczuk said: “This is a great British company and we're proud to have them in Rochdale. I was delighted to open the new factory on their 50th anniversary and really pleased to see new jobs being created. They're a real Rochdale success story."

Hanson Springs has grown to employ over 180 staff in Rochdale with a turnover approaching £25,000,000 with 80% of sales being exported around the world. The company started at Marland Forge, before moving to Heywood and Todmorden before settling at it’s current facilties at Lincoln St and Mellor St in Rochdale, and Dallas Texas. The new facility at Gorrells Way Rochdale comprising over 90,000sq ft on 7 acres will give the Company space to grow over the coming years.

The celebration’s came in the middle of a hectic period for Hanson Springs. Graham Fowler and Neil Barcroft from the technical sales department and Pascal Esposito, European Sales Representative had just returned from manning a stand at the Offshore Oil & Gas Exhibition in Aberdeen. This was planned to coincide with a new brochure and website designed by Rochdale based Hillside Group. On Monday 9th September, the first day of our 51st year in business, Hanson Springs recruited 4 local apprentices who have started 12 months off site engineering education at Rochdale Training.

Whilst the company is ‘only’ 50 years old it can boast having 5 staff that have now served for more than 40 years each. With an average tenure of over 12 years Hanson Springs believes that staff retention and loyalty are crucial to its reputation as being one of the worlds leading specialist spring manufacturers.

The company’s thank you gift to Malcolm was to install a chandelier in the refurbished Gorrells Way reception. This has been manufactured in house by a talented team of designers, springmaker's, engineers, welders and electricians. It consists of 50 springs, 50cm in length and 50mm in diameter, each spring is finished off with a crystal drop and the whole chandelier is illuminated with low energy LED lighting.

The entire workforce of Hanson Springs along with their partners were then treated to a trip to York races. Before leaving on the coaches for York, Malcolm and his wife Maureen gave each couple a £50.00 note to celebrate the ‘50th anniversary’ and provide some stake money to help enjoy the day. At York racecourse following reception drinks everyone sat down to enjoy a gourmet lunch enjoying sweeping views of the magnificent York racecourse through floor to ceiling glass windows. The weather also played its part in making the day special with the sun shining for most of the day allowing everyone to enjoy watching the racing from the private balcony that fronts the Ebor suite.

Hanson Springs sponsored the 4:40 race at York, which was named the ‘Hanson Springs 50th Anniversary Stakes.’ The race was won by the favourite ‘Lancelot Du Lac.’ Following the race Lee Hind (Engineer) and Roy Fox (Sales Director) of Hanson Springs presented the winning trophy to Jim Crowley (Jockey), D K Ivory (Trainer) and M J Yarrow (Owner).

After returning from York races the celebrations continued with part of the factory being converted into a function room with food provided by Bury Hog Roast, a Fully Staffed Bar and entertainment from local bands. Adam John Rogers played an acoustic guitar set, followed by the band ‘Mid Blue’ before the day came to an end at midnight with a DJ playing dance music to the close. An impromptu highlight of the evening was the ‘Gangnam Style’ dance performed by the four South Korean sales representatives… which no one will forget!

The event was so successful that plans are already underway to celebrate the 51st Anniversary in 2014!