Keeping it local: Two Businesses continue decades of business together

Posted by on 25 Sep 2023

Family owned Rochdale based business Hanson Springs, have placed an order for 4 Spring Test Machines worth £100,000 with fellow Rochdale based business Testometric. 

Born out of servicing the textile industry in Rochdale, both family owned business have grown and diversified over the decades to supply all sectors from textiles, paper and packaging to oil and gas, automotive and aerospace industries. 

Driven by the client’s need for quality assurance and meeting Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), Hanson Springs and Testometric export journeys are two of the town’s great success stories. Both organisations have customers in over 70 countries and both are recognised as global specialists in their fields. Worldwide exports today amount to 90% and 70% of their business respectively, and include Europe, Australia, North America, Middle East and the Far East, with China and India being primary export markets for both businesses.

The machines being replaced were originally bought by Hanson Springs from Testometric almost 30 years ago. Whilst the mechanics remain robust, it is the developments in digitalisation forcing the replacement of the machinery to ensure it is compatible with state of the art modular electronics and latest operating systems pivotal to transforming traditional manufacturing into more efficient, agile and competitive Advanced Manufacturing machinery.

John Hanson, Director at Hanson Springs, said ‘Future proofing equipment for advances in technology is crucial, this will allow us to access data in real time which in turn will increase productivity and improve product quality, ensuring we remain internationally competitive.’

During COVID, both businesses where hit with around a 40% reduction in sales, however, post pandemic is a very different story, 2022 saw Hanson Springs and Testometric having their strongest financial year in trading history, and today both companies boast a strong pipeline of orders, Hanson Springs forecasting a 20% year on year growth for the next two years alone. 

Both Hanson Springs and Testometric are adamant that working with a local supply chain is priority; whilst access to raw materials locally continues to be a challenge, it is a conscious strategic decision to maximise the local supply chains within the borough, Greater Manchester and the Northwest where feasible. 

Chris Thorp, Director at Testometric “The formula works, being so close to each other allows us to provide consistently high quality customer service and after sales support with fast response times, this has given us the advantage against our competitors for the past 29 years.  It also supports the creation of local jobs and stimulates the local economy keeping the legacy of manufacturing in Rochdale alive.”

Rochdale remains a Mecca for both traditional and now advanced manufacturing, with significant investment from the Strength in Places Fund and initiatives such as Atom Valley and AMPI strengthening the innovation ecosystem, Rochdale is at the very heart of driving economic resilience and productivity.

The RDA along with The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) are leading the £22.6m Advanced Manufacturing & Productivity Institute (AMPI) project, the UK’s Research & Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund, which will be used to drive innovation for the UK’s advanced machinery manufacturers.

Chris Thorp said “It is exciting times for Rochdale, we have worked closely with NPL for many years, taking a second site on Kingsway Business Park to be closer to AMPI was a crucial decision and we plan to move our entire operation there to be closer to the institute and be at the core of the innovation centre”.

Rochdale remains a town with a rich history of innovation, manufacturing and as the birthplace of the Cooperative movement its business community continues in this spirit, from maximising local supply chains and working collaboratively to growing and developing local talent.