Adanac co-founder Michael Ball reflects on the past twenty-five years. From humble beginnings to global supply.
Michael and Susan Ball co-founded ADANAC back in 1986.
Adanac commenced trading nearly twenty-five years ago on Dec 1st 1986 having been formed by Michael and Susan Ball following their return from Canada. Initial assistance came from Susan’s father the late Derek Ogden. The main focus of the company was to provide valve users and distributors with a quality source for non-standard or modified valves.
The first premises were an 1100 square foot workshop with office at 7 Chamberlayne Road, Bury St Edmunds. A range of suitable machinery was purchased and “metal cutting” commenced about ten days later. Workshop staff consisted of Michael doing the machining, fitting and welding in between taking enquiries and quoting with Susan manning the phones, doing the books and carrying out hydro-testing. And after a time we even got heat in the workshop!
As things progressed we took the plunge to increase staff and our Engineering Director Neil West joined us in June 1988. As things got busier we employed more people including Andrew Gillespy (Chief test Specialist) and Richard Sharpe (Production Manager) who are still with us today.
After about six years, increasing orders, more staff and additional machinery meant a move across the street to Unit 11, a palatial 3000 square foot workshop with second floor offices. We stayed there for about three years until we again ran out of space.
Adanac’s spacious and well-appointed facility in Suffolk. UK.
A lack of suitable property to rent or buy in Bury St. Edmunds sent us looking elsewhere and we moved to our current 10,000 square foot factory at Woolpit Business Park which was built to our requirements and more latterly has seen the addition of a fabrication and welding shop, mezzanine floor for stock and component storage and the dedicated ATaCS high pressure gas and low temperature test area.
Staffing is currently in the low twenties with a wide range of workshop and engineering skills available in a comprehensive manufacturing facility supported by QA and design functions and an efficient general office and sales team. Adanac is now actively seek motivated school leavers to join our staff by operating an apprenticeship scheme. This scheme, coupled with our continued commitment to training, ensures Adanac is at the forefront of industry developments and engineering techniques.
Over the years, Adanac’s range of products and services has gradually increased. After initially focusing on modest modification and machining, we have progressed to the advanced engineering techniques required for cryogenic conversions, cryogenic testing and valve jacketing.
From our initial humble beginnings we are now recognised throughout the oil, gas and petrochemical Industries as the specialist modification shop of choice and have close working relationships with many major worldwide valve manufacturers including Flowserve, Kitz, Velan, OMB, Conbraco and Tyco. Our current client portfolio consists of a number of global blue chip organisations such as Air Products, BOC, National Grid, Shell, Ineos and British Sugar, which further highlights Adanac’s reputation for quality and service within the industry.
Adanac continues to grow and in February 2011 we opened our Midlands Sales office in Cannock, Staffordshire. The central location enables our external sales team to maintain contact with our customers within the UK and worldwide.
We look forward to the next twenty-five years with eager anticipation!!
With regards
Michael Ball
