British Made Awards 2021

28 | British Made Awards 2021 for them. “Had we not built those relationships even with our competitors, we would not have been able to maintain a supply of medical mattresses/foam for the vaccination stools and PPE when we were probably needed the most,” states Sian. They put differences aside nationally to ensure that all customers and clientele were taken care of, even in the most challenging times, which is why RPL’s customer relationships are vital for the company and its business. Overall, a business is only as good as its product, and a product is nothing without a customer. Therefore, the way RPL handles its business makes it unique in this industry—putting customers first to take care of needs nationally. Company Name: Rubber Products (Leeds)Ltd Contact Name: Sian Colley Web Address: www.rpll.co.uk Contact Email: [email protected] For over 63 years, Rubber Products (Leeds) Ltd has been supplying foam and offering the best quality product along with the best customer service. Acknowledged within the British Made Awards 2021 for its outstanding excellence in the industry, its high standard is implemented by the staff who firmly follow the ISO9001 standard. Ultimately, the company is continually motivated to keep its clients satisfied and maintain a name that leads the market by producing the best quality products. Launched as a family-owned company in 1958, Rubber Products (Leeds) Ltd currently trades from a 28,000sqft warehouse within Leeds, providing foam for children soft play sectors to foam pigs for the water and oil industries to contract furniture and medical mattresses. Additionally, RPL has provided foam for the seating in Alex Ferguson’s box at Manchester Utd and mattresses for Leeds Utd training ground. They have also provided foam for Warner Brothers film sets, TV series ‘Victoria and ‘Gentleman Jack’ as well as foam for the ‘Big Brother’ Chair. An impressive list of clientele which several companies within the industry couldn’t touch with a 10ft pole. Supplying foam towards these various sectors proves how well established the company is and how far its name has gone and how it’s recognition within the industry is based firmly on its customer service reputation. Director Sian Colley explains, “We have clients we have worked with for over 20 years. Hence our ethos is to work as a collaborative team with our staff and our customers. It allows us to build strong relationships so we can clearly understand their needs and can therefore support them accordingly.” Which is an aim that has worked well for RPL over the years, as not many businesses can state they have had such long-lasting customer relationships. In the spirit of collaboration, RPL often aids in development projects with its customers to bring innovative models to the market. Thus, making sure that the customers are at the forefront of their industries. Whilst RPL continues to develop products that enhance the success of its clients; the company has decided to heavily invest by updating its Rubber Products (Leeds)Ltd current CNC in 2021 and awaiting the arrival of its second CNC in January 2022 from Wintech. The idea behind this was to ensure that it could double its output and maintain a constant supply for its customers. But, it still stands by the fact that everything it does for the business is to ensure its clients are well taken care of first and foremost. Sian explains, “With this investment, we are confident that the expenditure will be worth every penny. Additionally, we are working with a customer on a hybrid foam mattress that will be exported to the USA. Therefore, our investments will help back our customers investment in maintaining supply for this lucrative export contract.” Unfortunately, once the Covid-19 pandemic came into practice nearly two years ago, it enforced closures, and RPL lost its main foam supplier. However, the company persevered and remained operational as its clients, such as the Nightingale Hospital’s, depended on them to supply the medical mattresses. Therefore, it sought out another foam convertor from Louth who continued to maintain foam supply Sep21608 Excellence Award for Medical Mattresses Manufacturing Services & Best Upholstery Foam Supplier 2021