Stourflex is involved in the supply of specialised pipework expansion products, sold under its own brand name Stourflex, (which is a registered trademark), together with a range of general pipework products and accessories. This supply of product is underpinned by specialist technical support and ancillary services.
Significant Dates in the History of the Group
- 1840 – John Hall has a long history dating back to the 18th century before its official incorporation as a limited company around 1840.
- 1947 – J & P Supplies was founded in 1947 by two mining engineers, Messrs. Johnson and Perrins supplying a range of products to local Black Country industry.
- 1967 – J & P Supplies was sold to John Hall & Company of Stourbridge, followed by a move away from its original market and a rapid diversification into products more associated with pipeline engineering. The period that followed saw a gradual expansion of the customer base into a broader geographical area.
- 1970s – Initially the product base was centred on tube, valves and fittings. In the 1970s this emphasis began to change with increasing specialisation in the field of products designed to overcome the challenges of pipework expansion. With commensurate expertise sufficient to assist clients and their professional advisors, the company began to build a reputation for providing high quality technical support.
- 1989 – The company’s expertise is recognised by Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) and is awarded the contract to supply over 150K of expansion joints to their Burnaston Plant near Derby.
- 1990 – StourFlex became a registered trademark of J & P Supplies products and saw the company sell products throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. Own branding also enabled the company to start exporting goods.
Due to continued growth, the size of the offices were not adequate. The existing site was redeveloped and now has a total size area of 2536 sq. yds (4200 sq. ft office area and 3742 sq.ft warehouse space). - 2002 – J & P Supplies awarded ISO 9001 accreditation for the provision of marketing, technical support, and supply of a range of industrial pipeline and pipework expansion products.
- 2003 – J & P Supplies awarded Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) approval and passed the BS6920 extraction of metals, odour and flavour tests for water.
- 2006 – J & P Supplies further develop their technical expertise and are able to provide reports using CAESAR II Pipe Stress Analysis software.
- 2008 – Today more than 85% of the company’s turnover is associated with pipework expansion products and the provision of associated technical advice. These products and services are marketed under the trade marked brand name of StourFlex. Other products are sold under the grouping of Industrial Pipeline Products.
- 2009 – Stourflex awarded the HM Naval Base Clyde Project (Known as Faslane) to provide a pipework flexibility analysis using the computer aided design Caesar II Pipe Stress Software.
- 2012 – Successful launch of the Stourflex range of carbon steel air & dirt separators. This addition to the product range further enhances our position as one of the UK‘s leading experts in the control of Heating and Ventilating systems.
- 2013 – J&P Supplies Ltd. re-brands the company as Stourflex. The rebranding includes a new logo, new website and new marketing style. This represents the culmination of product development that began with the creation of the ‘Stourflex’ product range in 1990 and reflects the prominence of the brand ‘Stourflex’ within the pipework sector.
- 2015 – The company continues to develop its product rage with the introduction of custom engineered lagging jackets, balance tanks and expansion vessels. These new product additions are a perfect complement to the existing Stourflex range and significantly enhance the range of products a technical services Stourflex can offer the market.
- 2016 – The company implements its new digital marketing strategy and continues to develop the Stourflex website in order to promote its increasing product range, high level of technical expertise and service. The strategy has seen the company move into new markets such as the marine, diesel & process industries. Further technical investments are made with the purchase of a HP AO digital printer & scanner to enable in house printing of engineering drawing to significantly reduce the time from evaluating a pipework flexibility requirement to quotation. This is further supported by investment in computer aided design (CAD) and training for its engineers.
- 2017 – Significant investment is made in the company’s warehouse facilities. The existing warehouse roof is replaced with a modern composite roofing system and the brickwork is over clad with plasticol coated sheeting. The company takes back the full storage facilities of the warehouse and increases its stock holding facilities by 33% in order to meet the demand of increased market share.
- 2018 – Further site improvements are approved including internal modernisation of the warehouse, redevelopment of an existing office block and improved car parking facilities.
- 2018 – Stourflex introduce Rooftop Supports and Rooftop Access to our range of products. The supports cover heavy plant from AHUs, chillers and fans, etc to supporting of ductwork, pipe and cable tray. Stourflex can also offer a sit install.
- 2020 – Mike Garrington is promoted to joint Managing Director who will share the position with Stephen Yardley. Mike who has worked for Stourflex since 1987 brings his huge wealth of experience to new position.