SME UK Enterprise Awards 2024/ 122 Clean Environment Extraction Systems Supplier of the Year 2024 Ideal Extraction is an engineering company specialising in providing bespoke dust and fume extraction systems, primarily to the woodworking sector. The business delivers its expert services to many household name companies, including one of the UK’s largest kitchen manufacturers, as well as working to support smaller joinery manufacturers. Below, we speak with Company Owner and Director, Helen Rhodes. Ideal Extraction was incorporated in 2020 by Helen and Steve Rhodes, following 19 years of running their own dust extraction business. In 2015, the couple sold their business to a competitor, and Helen exited the industry to pursue other business ventures whilst Steve remained with the company’s new owners for several years. One further sale and restructure later, Helen and Steve decided it was time to take control of their lives and formed Ideal Extraction. The couple oversee Ideal Extraction with impeccable attention to detail and a heavy emphasis on providing first-class customer service, allowing them to establish Ideal Extraction as a leading provider of dust and fume extraction systems. “Providing the very best customer service is always our top priority,” Helen tells us. “Whilst we encourage all clients to keep on top of maintenance and servicing of equipment, it is inevitable that sometimes breakdowns occur, and we understand how important it is to get the customer’s site up and running again as soon as possible. So being able to react quickly, including on weekends, is something we pride ourselves on.” Clients of Ideal Extraction can feel reassured that they are always receiving the highest standards of service from industry professionals, with the company working alongside a specialist Health and Safety support provider to ensure that it stays up to date with the latest legislation and industry recommendations. Steve Rhodes, who is also Company Director alongside wife Helen, has been in the air-movement industry for decades, and holds a stellar reputation for his ability to find solutions to problems where others have failed. This knowledge increases Ideal Extraction’s competitive advantage within the industry, allowing the company to grow through recommendation. The company is unique in being the sole UK supplier of MOLDOW products. MOLDOW has been manufacturing and developing dependable products with a long service life since 1921. Paired with Ideal Extraction’s Planned Preventative Maintenance service, businesses can benefit from increased system efficiency and a safer working environment. Maintaining a frontrunning position in the industry requires paying close attention to market trends and making a commitment to continuous improvement. This commitment must be shared across the team to drive true results, which is something that Ideal Extraction achieves through open communication and promoting ongoing reflection as individuals and a team. “We continually review our processes, and we utilise cloud based digital systems where possible, meaning that working from home or indeed any location is possible,” says Helen. “Our team share the vision for the company, and we get together on a weekly basis to talk about what is going well, where things could have gone better, and amend practices as appropriate. This adaptability and willingness of the team to trial and adopt new ways of working will help to keep the company strong should challenges arise.” While there are always new trends to be observed in any industry, Helen notes that the dust and fume market for the woodworking sector has been relatively stable for the last few years. The market saw a ‘boom’ during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the transition to remote working and lack of travel saw more people investing in home improvements. This surge resulted in many clients increasing production capacity, thus requiring additional extraction. The future for Ideal Extraction promises to be fruitful for the company, with the recent recruitment of an additional contracts engineer to help meet rising demands as the company continues to grow. Furthermore, Helen tells us that Ideal Extraction is looking at a full office refurbishment, with a new layout to make more effective use of the space, ready to accommodate future recruitment plans. We look forward to seeing what is next for Ideal Extraction, as the company prepares to continue its efforts to expand and improve its services. We recommend keeping a close eye on Ideal Extraction, as the company continues its mission to achieving excellence. Contact Details Contact: Helen Rhodes Company: Ideal Extraction Ltd Web Address: www.idealextraction.co.uk
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