Hilltop Celebrate 25 years in business

Golborne based Hilltop Products Insulation Sleeving Ltd is celebrating 25 years of successful trading. The family firm was originally set up by engineer Terry Hill in a loft conversion of the family home on Leigh road, Leigh, hence the name Hilltop – and specializes in the supply of high quality electrical insulation and identification sleevings and accessories, including a vast range of heatshrinkable sleevings. Terry saw a niche in the market for a high quality supplier of coloured and printed cable & wire markers, he recognized the need for the added value services such as cut to length and printing to customers individual requirements coupled with as fast turnaround in the ever demanding automotive market. The demand quickly grew and Stephen was engaged from leaving school to assist in the company’s management and development, Hilltop quickly growing from a “one man” band with other members of the family employed soon after.

Local company Volex Wiring was Hilltops first customer, and they continue to supply this and other local firms, but a quarter of a decade later their products and services are utilized in some of the most famous names in big industry, including aerospace, rail & mass transit and automotive industries. Among the most famous clients that utilize their products are companies such as Bentley motors, Aston Martin, Range Rover, Jaguar and Siemens Electrical.

Since its humble beginnings the company has moved premises several times and is now located in a purpose built site on Kirkstead Way, Golborne. The business remains very much family orientated and is now run by Terry’s sons Steve, managing Director and Bryan, Sales Director, numerous other family members are employed along with staff totaling to 31 employees from Leigh, Golborne and surroundings areas.

In 2004 they became the first manufacturing company in Wigan borough to be selected for support through Selective finance for investment by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). Hilltop was recognized by NWDA through their commitment to a localized capital investment program in the region of £750,000, this to enable the expansion of the company on the current site, as opposed to re-location.

Turnover for the year end 2004 was only slightly below the £2million mark and during their 25th anniversary year (2005) Hilltop are near completion of a massive expansion program which has seen the company acquire a 5,000sq ft unit located alongside their current production site. This unit has since undergone further development and is now a specialized handling and distribution centre with the latest “State of the Art” storage and order picking equipment installed. These facilities will be complimented by an equally sophisticated manufacturing, planning & control IT system, due to go live Jan 2006.

Hilltop is continuing to grow in both domestic and international markets: they now have trading partners all over the world and with the expansion of sales into Europe have even set up a European Sales Office and distribution site in the Netherlands run by European Sales manager Melanda Bouw.

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