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28th January 2021

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Pland Stainless Centenary attracts Royal guest

HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex visited Leeds manufacturer, Pland Stainless, last week as part of the manufacturer's Centenary celebrations.

Established in 1919 on the same site, stainless steel products manufacturer Pland Stainless, invited the Royal Guest to take a tour of its engineering facility and assist in the manufacture of some hospital sinks to mark the occasion.

Prince Edward was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant, Ed Anderson and the Lord Mayor, Councillor Graham Latty and Lady Mayoress, Councillor Pat Latty on the visit. He was also joined by a number of Pland's customers and suppliers. The event saw Prince Edward meet all 45 staff on the tour of the facility and he was taken around the factory by Alison Harling, the company's production manager.

"The Event has been a great success," says Steve Duree, managing director (pictured with Centenary cake donated by world-renowned Bettys - also celebrating its centenary!). "At the end of his tour Prince Edward unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion which will be proudly displayed in our reception area. Everyone enjoyed the event and after he departed, we had a celebratory lunch and all staff have taken the afternoon off. It's not every day a UK manufacturer celebrates 100 years in business with a royal guest!"

As one would expect with such a long trading history the Pland business has changed and flexed to chase emerging markets over the years. When formed in 1919 it was called the Taylor File & Tool Company but in 1936 that they became the Stainless Steel Sink Company (Trademark PLAND), the first to manufacture stainless steel sinks in the UK for both the catering and domestic markets.

In 1993 it became part of The Spring Ram Corporation and as the group moved its domestic stainless steel sink production to Malta, here in the UK, Pland evolved to become a key commercial supplier.

In the year 2000, Pland became independent again from any group ownership and in 2008 the management team, led by current managing director Steve Duree and operations director, Ian Hodgson, acquired the business.

Throughout the years and despite different ownership, the business has continued to employ and train skilled engineering personnel (some multi-generations) to manufacture robust and well engineering products that are prevalent in many UK buildings today. In fact, the manufacturer claims that its most important asset by far is its workforce, most of whom are time-served craftsmen who have learnt their trade through years of service with Pland. The company has been committed to offering an apprenticeship scheme too since 2014, to continue to train skilled workers for the business.

Pland products today are largely designed for the healthcare, sanitaryware, washrooms, laboratory, education, catering, janitorial and the secure accommodation market places. But a growing and significant proportion of their business is made up of bespoke products where the technical team work with the client to design stainless steel products that deliver specific solutions, using in-house CAD/CAM and 3D modeling technology.

T: 0113 263 4184
W: www.plandstainless.co.uk

25th March 2019