Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Manufacturers

Eccleston & Hart Ltd - About Us

The company was established in 1837 by Ernie Hyde, and originally called Hyde & Co., manufacturing jewellery, utilising a tool shop and machine shop.

Ray Eccleston became manager of this company and together with another jeweller Joseph Hart (who was the 3rd generation in an established business) bought out Mr Hyde when he retired in 1927. The name was then changed to Eccleston and Hart.

During both the first and second world wars the company and specifically the tool shop ( which had been producing the dies etc. for casting and stamping jewellery) was involved in the manufacture of fuses.

During the second world war several useful items were made including an aircraft de-icer device for the RAF, first used in September 1939.

Ray Ecclestons' two sons Ian and Don joined the business after the war, Ian involved in the engineering division and Don involved in the jewellery business. The company became Limited in 1959.

The jewellery business had been innovative for many years and produced the first expanding bracelet called 'The Triumph'.

The engineering division was involved in the first CV (constant velocity) joints for the prototype Mini back in the 50 's and also produced racing brake discs for Girling and Aston Martin. The company at this stage also produced fork lift truck axles for Boss Trucks.

In 1962, as the company evolved, Eccleston and Hart Limited under licence produced the first Buchman expanded polystyrene (EPS) moulding machines. As the company expanded larger premises were needed, and the move was made to Legge Lane in 1964.

The company diversified moulding of EPS products was now carried out as well as conversion/fabrication and cutting, new skills were developed as this new business evolved.

In 1980 Ian's son Mike joined the company and developed a new product for the engineering division in the form of an electronic power supply, specifically un-interruptible power supplies for computer systems, and also produced DC- AC Inverters.

More space was needed, the company again needed to expand and bought premises in Lichfield Road, Aston, in 1989.

The new electronic / engineering division evolved, making use of new technology, manufactured hot wire cutting machines. One of the next innovations was the design, development and production of a CAD/CAM Expanded Polystyrene cutting machine with the ability to use Windows type files and even vectorization of scanned images.

Next came the worlds first Multiple axis (6 axis), multiple wire CAD/CAM Expanded Polystyrene profiler, with the ability to produce different shapes on either side of the machine e.g. square to round, making it possible to create more complex shapes without moulding. We soon became the main supplier of EPS cutting machines in the UK.

In March 2001, we decided to produce our own EPS material and invested in a 5m x 1.25m x 0.65m block mould plant. To accommadate this expansion we purchased factory premises at 780 Kingsbury Road. The transformation of this site began. The project took 3 years to complete.

We then acquired next door 794, Kingsbury Road, to increase production space, and accommadate an oscillating wire cutting line in order to produce EPS sheet. This transition was an extraordinarily challenging time for us, and then devastation struck, when on Saturday 19 June 2004, a fire caused complete destruction of the main factory premises at 780, Kingsbury Road. Three juveniles were arrested for arson, but were never prosecuted.

We were all in shock and in a situation extremely difficult to overcome to say the least. With determination and hard work we endeavoured to rebuild our business. We still had 794, next door intact, though inadequate for our needs, with the cutting line in place, a loan machine from our partners in Ireland Airpacks Limited, and thanks to a committed workforce, at least we had a starting point.

Follow this link to see the devastation we faced.

Through our sheer determination, resolve and our engineering expertise, the CNC cutting machines were rebuilt within 6 months of the fire. Replacement of the factory premises, though was much more challenging and frought with problems, our plans to rebuild on the site were taking so long, we took the decision to move elsewhere and purchased 804, Kingsbury Road. The property needed extensive work before we moved, in June 2005.

Two years on, with a new Block Mould Plant and all our other machinery in place we are now fully functioning, and continuing to improve our facilities, with our new rear extension completed in July 2007 providing much needed space for expansion. Our aim as always to provide an excellent service for our customers.

We would like to express our grateful thanks to everyone for supporting us through this difficult period of time, our customers, our suppliers, our friends and especially our staff and workforce. Your help has been greatly appreciated.