Setting the Standard - the James Heal blog

New brand launch is getting closer...

2011-08-05T14:36:00.006+01:00

Hi everyone,

The launch of our lovely new brand identity is getting much closer, only a few weeks to go until we reveal all at the ITMA 2011 exhibition in the iconic city of Barcelona.

I'm personally really looking forward to attending the show; having never been to an ITMA show or visited Barcelona before, I am sure it will be a great learning experience all round and a real eye opener.

I am getting even more excited about launching our new website which is only weeks away from completion. The new website will be packed with interesting product information - whether it is testing instruments or test materials you are looking for; or you would like to find out more about service and calibration, test methods and standards, the website will have it all presented in an easy to use and interactive fashion. The website will be much more focused on helping you find the information that you need faster and more efficiently, through a better search facility and display of product information.

We're also really pleased to have established a strong presence on social media networking sites such as LinkedIn, where our textile testing group now has over 400 members. Our new website will totally integrate with social media, to ensure that you can stay connected to us wherever you are in the world. Expect interesting and knowledgeable blog posts and articles from our team of experts in engineering, design, marketing and technical; all eager to share our knowledge and interact with you.

The team here will be extremely proud once the website and new brand are both launched, as they have been intense (but enjoyable!) projects and hopefully will re-enforce our strengths as the leader in the textile testing field.

Watch this space for more updates as we count down to the big launch in September.

Best,

Rachael Hibberd - Marketing

JAMES HEAL TO LAUNCH TWO NEW PRODUCTS AND UNVEIL NEW BRAND IMAGE AT ITMA 2011!

2011-07-13T09:57:00.002+01:00

If you are planning to attend the ITMA exhibition between 22-29 September in Barcelona, you will be in for a real surprise if you visit James Heal in Hall 2, Stand B114.

We are promising an exciting showcase of products and live demonstrations. Visitors will have the opportunity to view our latest technological innovations in physical and colourfastness testing – with a showcase of laboratory testing instruments which include two brand new product launches that represent the next generation in testing with their combination of true ingenuity, innovation and value.

On display will be our groundbreaking Martindale 900 Series (pictured above) for abrasion and pilling testing, the TruBurst burst strength tester plus our Elmatear digital tear strength tester. In addition we will have dedicated displays for our range of high quality Test Materials products, and visitors can find out more about the benefits of maintaining their instruments through regular Service and Calibration for improved performance.

A new modern brand image for a Company with almost 140 years' heritage....

Pictured above, new James Heal Logo

Since last Summer, we have been working with Leeds-based Thompson Brand Partners on a strategic re-branding initiative to enhance the look and feel of our brand identity; whilst also making significant improvements to our product development and engineering processes. We will also be launching a fantastic new website in August. James Heal’s Owner and Managing Director, David Repper, explains:

“The challenge was to capture our 139-year heritage and create a modern brand that can operate and be recognised internationally to deliver the sophisticated product and service that James Heal represent today: Innovation, Leadership, Integrity, Precision and Pedigree.”

He continues: “It’s not just about creating a new 'image' or a new logo - our evolved brand represents a new way of thinking; our core values will underpin everything that we do. It's the combination of our expertise and innovation that drives new product development to enable us to better meet customer needs. Personally, I’m very proud to be leading the Company through such an exciting period of change and success!”

We are really looking forward to meeting new and existing customers at ITMA Barcelona 2011; to discuss testing instrumentation and test materials, plus advice and consultation on any aspect of engineering, laboratory design or technical applications support - our products and services, combined with our in-depth knowledge, add real value to your laboratory testing activities.

Come and visit our stand in Hall 2, Stand B114 to see how our expertise and leading-edge technology can help fulfil your textile testing requirements!

Rachael Hibberd

Marketing - James Heal

James Heal hits the Chinese Market

2011-06-29T12:02:00.000+01:00

This June, we exhibited at Shanghaitex 2011 in collaboration with our dedicated Chinese Partners IntroTech Ltd (ITL). The event was a huge success and we were able to showcase many of our key colour fastness testing and physical testing instruments, alongside popular Test Materials to the Chinese Market and delegates across the globe.

ITL designed an effective James Heal stand in partnership with our Marketing Department, in hall W4. This was large enough for us to demonstrate a number of key instruments such as; Martindale, Gyrowash, Elmatear, Orbitor and TruBurst. To compliment these, a range of our most popular Test Materials such as; Multifibre, Abrasive Cloth, Greyscales, Texpens, Blue Wools and a selection of Reference Detergents for use with the Testing Instruments.

The event was attended by Elliot Rich, our Sales Director, who was able to work closely with and build stronger relationships with our Chinese Partners. Elliot comments: “The exhibition was very productive, especially being able to meet face to face with our customers, to further understand their individual requirements and gain greater insight into the Chinese Market.”

This year marked the 15th ShanghaiTex, International Exhibition on Textile Industry. It is the most historical and professional exhibition of its kind in China. Since its inauguration in 1984, ShanghaiTex stages every 2 years in Shanghai with its dedication in delivering the best trading and information exchanging platform for the manufacturers of both textile machinery and textile products, facilitating industrial development with influences spanning over not only within China but also the world.

Techtextil Frankfurt - May 2011

2011-06-09T11:47:00.000+01:00

Techtextil in Frankfurt is the leading international fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, and we recently exhibited at the show during May, joined on the stand by some of our Agents from around Europe.

Our International Sales Manager, Simon Dakin, was manning the busy James Heal stand, which included displays of our Maxi-Martindale 9-station abrasion and pilling tester and our TruBurst2 bursting strength tester, along with some key products from our Test Materials range. The show turned out to be a good success, with strong visitor numbers from the day of opening on the 24th May through to its finish on May 26th.

Simon Dakin - James Heal, pictured centre.

The Messe Frankfurt Centre is a large show area, similar to the venue where ITMA Munich was staged in 2007, with several large halls, about four of which were used. A series of Technical Textiles Seminars were run in conjunction with the exhibition, and generally, the exhibition attracted a high calibre of visitors and specialists, looking for new innovations in the field of technical textiles and nonwovens, an area where James Heal can provide high precision testing equipment and test materials for.

Check out some of our photos from the event, showing our stand and product displays:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesheal/sets/72157626796604015/

Feel free to share with us your own successes from the show, or ideas and questions regarding testing within the field of technical textiles and nonwovens.

Rachael
Marketing Manager- James Heal

How we are supporting future professionals

2011-05-27T12:16:00.000+01:00

We have recently been working alongside the University of Huddersfield, England, as part of their ‘Working with Industry’ initiative. This was introduced to ensure its Textile Design students receive as many real-life working experiences as possible through partnerships with market leading businesses like ours.

Dougie Bland, the University’s Textile Design tutor approached our Business Development Manager Lisa Earnshaw, (who is one of Dougie’s former Textile Technology students), in the hope that we might consider offering a workshop on our products to their students. Of course we were happy to help and went far further! Lisa organised and delivered a series of three one-hour workshops, showing how to conduct tests and using different instruments, with the aim of enabling the students to put their lecture theory into practice.

Our Technical Manager Peter Goodwin got involved and gave product demonstrations using our Midi-Martindale, Crockmeter and the Titan³, to 36 second-year Textile Design students on site at the University’s Business School.

“We are very pleased to be offering our services to the University,” said Lisa. “The students seemed to really enjoy the sessions which was evident from their in depth questions.

“We would like to continue our partnership in the future, so that the students can experience the range of testing instruments we produce and how they are used.”

The next phase is already underway with six second-year students working with us as part of their Fabric Performance assignment. The students recently visited our premises in Halifax, to prepare a report on our customers, products, processes, quality procedures and future developments. They had a tour of the whole building, meeting staff from different departments, and visited the new show laboratory demonstrating our range of testing instruments.

Dougie Bland is keen to encourage the links with us, “The experience of working directly with industry professionals is invaluable for the students’ development and future employability, whether that is through experiencing a placement year or even working on a live brief provided by companies like James Heal.”

View our flickr photostream to see photos from this event

Danielle Ellis - James Heal Marketing Team

Visit us at the leading technical textiles and nonwovens exhibition - TechTextil 2011

2011-05-01T13:28:00.002+01:00

Between 24-26 May, TechTextil is returning to Frankfurt, Germany, as the leading show for technical textiles and nonwovens.

James Heal will be exhibiting in Hall 3.0 on stand F41 - so if you are visiting or exhibiting at Techtextil Frankfurt 2011, please do come and visit us - we would be happy to answer any questions you might have. On our stand we will be showcasing our latest technological innovations with our exciting new Martindale 900 Series and TruBurst² instruments.

In response to customer demand, we have created a new range of Martindale which combines the best in style, quality and functionality; bringing users to the next level in abrasion and pilling testing.

The 900 Series includes the Midi-Martindale is an industry first with 5 stations, which, in comparison to other 4-head instruments in the market, gives users the best quality at lower costs to suit their requirements. For higher capacity testing, the 9 station Maxi-Martindale has been developed, and is the only 9-head instrument in the market which offers full access to all abrading tables from the front. And not forgetting the 2 station Mini-Martindale for specialist / R&D functions.

TruBurst² will take centre stage with its exciting advances for the medical field. From Hernia patches through to nonwoven garments and wipes, TruBurst² is being used by the leaders in Medical R&D. Bursting strength, distention, cyclic and rapid fatigue testing are some of the innovative key features available on TruBurst²

Following the success of previous exhibitions in the region, we are looking forward to meeting new and existing customers at Techtextil Frankfurt 2011.

James Heal SME Manufacturer of the Year 2010.wmv

2011-02-15T17:23:00.002Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYHWPwU1rt0

This short video clip was recorded for the 2010 Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards Ceremony, where James Heal were nominated for the award "SME Manufacturer of the Year 2010". James Heal subsequently won this prestigious award! The voiceover was provided by James Heal's Owner and Managing Director, Mr D.M. Repper.

About James Heal:

James Heal manufactures precision textile testing instrumentation and test materials, operating from a 19th century mill of 70,000 square feet in Halifax. The company exports its equipment to textile and garment manufacturers worldwide, who supply retailers such as NEXT, IKEA, M&S and Louis Vuitton. Throughout a difficult recession, we have continued to invest in our infrastructure and people -- in 2010 we increased our workforce by 30% and revenue by 20%! We are a proud ambassador for "UK Manufacturing" - boldly and successfully defying the general trend followed by many others in our sector, of having products made cheaply overseas, re-badging, and then adding very little value.

James Heal making Headlines!

2011-02-07T15:02:00.003Z

Recent Media Coverage

We have been getting a lot of positive press lately, both in the local/regional newspapers in Yorkshire, and also in the wider Textile trade media - which is all good news for James Heal.

Last week, we were featured in the Halifax Evening Courier newspaper, in print and online, in a feature on successful local businesses titled "Dynamic Firm Enjoys Sales Boost and Global Reputation".

Much of this positive PR has arisen from the fact that 2010 was an award winning year for James Heal, where we won two awards for Manufacturing Excellence.

We have also been making improvements to our product range, launching innovative new testing instruments like the Martindale 900 Series, next generation abrasion and pilling testers; or the TruBurst2 Dual Control for burst strength testing, which is compliant to both M&S and ADIDAS standards.

As a Company proud of its UK manufacturing heritage, we are thrilled that our media profile is increasing, both as a reflection of a successful UK business, but also as a market leader in the textile testing industry.

See more examples of the James Heal in the media below:

James H. Heal To Supply TTi With Elmatear2 Tear Strength Tester (Source: Textile World Online)
Textile Testing International ties up with James Heal for new lab (Source: Fibre2Fashion.com)

Join James Heal and OMC, at Dhaka Textile & Garment Show, Bangladesh

2011-02-03T11:05:00.001Z

The 8th Dhaka Textile & Garment Show 2011 (DTG 2011) will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) from February 13 - 16, 2011, and is an ideal platform to demonstrate new products and exploit business opportunities.

The Exhibition

James Heal will be joining their representative Agents, Overseas Marketing Corporation (OMC), on their stand number 807, with the event predicted to be a great success. On display will be a showcase of James Heal’s Textile Testing Instruments for fabric and colour fastness testing, and sample test materials for colour fastness and shrinkage testing, from their range of Quality Assured Consumables.

Pre-DTG Exhibition Textile Testing Seminar – 12 February 2011

Prior to the exhibition, OMC will be hosting their annual pre-exhibition Seminar at the UTC Convention Hall, which this year is themed “Professional Textile Testing & Dyeing Solutions for Quality Control, Quality Assurance and Export Market Growth”.

Each year OMC hosts a Seminar prior to the exhibition, and this year they are expecting over 120 delegates representing key areas of the textile supply chain; from educational establishments, to test houses such as SGS, ITS, BV and TUV, and various textile-producing companies.

Supporting OMC will be James Heal’s Sales Director Elliot Rich and International Sales Manager Simon Dakin who will be giving presentations to the delegates. Elliot Rich will be giving a presentation titled ‘Shaping the Future’, which focuses on how James Heal is actively shaping the future of its business and the textile testing industry; through new product developments and continuous innovation to help us remain competitive and sustainable for the future.

Simon Dakin will present on how James Heal can provide ‘Physical and Colour Fastness Testing Solutions’, highlighting how common tests, such as Snagging or Abrasion, can be conducted with ease and accuracy, using a James Heal instrument. In addition, Simon will discuss the importance of how an accurately maintained and calibrated instrument can improve laboratory testing performance and results.

The Seminar is an essential forum for Textile Industry Professionals to meet with experts in the field of textile testing, to share market insights, knowledge and information; and to ensure that James Heal remain dynamic and pro-active to meeting customer needs and responding quickly to market changes.

Both OMC and James Heal would like to encourage visitors to join them on stand 807 for valuable advice on laboratory design, appropriate tests for their products and buyers as well as suitable instrumentation and accessories to carry out these tests.

OMC’s Managing Director, Mr. M.A. Bhuiyan, commented:
“We look forward to meeting both new and existing customers alike and providing innovative solutions to their textile testing requirements, through the new technologies and product innovations brought forward by James Heal.”

For more information on the DTG Show 2011, please visit: http://www.bangla-expo.com/DTG/

About OMC:

Overseas Marketing Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd. was founded in January 1980 as a business enterprise in the field of science and technology. Since its inception the company has been marketing products of some of the leading manufacturers of: Analytical Research Instruments; Education training Equipments; Land Surveying Instruments, GPS and Software; Civil Engineering Instruments and Software; Scientific and Laboratory Instruments; Precision Measuring Instruments; Leather and textile Testing Instruments.

For more information, please visit: www.omcbd.com

Research and innovation debate: Science behind the Lissajous

2011-01-26T18:02:00.002Z

Hi Everyone,

Our Engineering Director, Neil Pryke has submitted the following post to address the issue of alternative lissajous patterns for non-textile applications. We'd be very keen to hear your feedback, so please do leave comments below or email us at: info@james-heal.co.uk

Happy reading.

Rachael - Marketing, James Heal

Alternative lissajous patterns for non-textile applications

When we design new products at James Heal, we always start with first principles. We don’t just duplicate what has been done before, but instead we find new, innovative features and benefits.

During the design of our latest 900 range of Martindale, we researched the science behind the lissajous. We discovered that we could design alternative lissajous patterns such as the ones shown here (links you to the James Heal Flickr photostream to view the images).

The standard pattern is suited for abrasion testing but this alternative lissajous pattern would be ideal for scratching polished surfaces. I’d like to know your thoughts and whether anyone can think of an application? James Heal would be the first to market so it’s potentially very interesting!

I’m also interested to know if anyone has heard of a method to test the abrasion of collar points. It is usually the points that fray while the rest of the shirt is in relatively good condition.

What I’d be keen to hear everyone’s views on, is whether there is any market potential in this issue?

N A Pryke

Engineering Director, James Heal

January 2011

Contact me by email

James Heal forge new relationship in Pakistan for laboratory expansion

2011-01-17T09:57:00.001Z

It was at the IGATEX exhibition in Pakistan during October 2010 that James Heal finalised an agreement with Textile Testing International (Tti) of Lahore, a leading provider of testing services for the textile and apparel industry, for the supply of their Elmatear2 tear strength tester - fulfilling Tti’s ambitious laboratory expansion plans.

The relationship between Tti and James Heal initially began in 2004 with an enquiry for James Heal’s Wascator, ICI Pilling Box and the Crockmeter. However, this relationship was further developed at the ITMA ASIA exhibition in Shanghai during June 2010. Mr. Hamed K. Lateef, CEO of Tti visited the James Heal stand with some samples, and Simon Dakin, International Sales Manager at James Heal, conducted demonstrative tests on the Elmatear2, to highlight its capabilities. Mr. Hamed K. Lateef was impressed with the results and decided to purchase the Elmatear2 for inclusion in their new laboratory project!

Mr. Hamed K. Lateef expressed his satisfaction with James Heal:

“Since our inception, Textile Testing International (Tti) has been continuously adding and upgrading its equipment to meet the ever demanding needs of the market. James Heal has always played a major role in providing world class instruments, consumables and service to Tti. Consequently, our latest laboratory expansion and technology upgrade is attributed to our close liaison with James Heal; with the help of a Technology Partner like them, we are always ‘one step ahead’ in adding value to our customer’s products”.

This is an excellent example of how trade shows can be a successful tool for meeting with key industry decision makers. Simon Dakin, International Sales Manager at James Heal commented:

“We are delighted to have strengthened our relationship with Tti, and are equally pleased with the successful outcome of the IGATEX exhibition in Lahore in October 2010. Together with our exclusive distributors in Pakistan, Al Ameen Trading Corp., based in Karachi, we felt the exhibition was a great platform for building new leads, showcasing our products and meeting with a wide variety of customers.”

>> View IGATEX 2010 Photos on Flickr

More about Elmatear2:

The Elmatear2 from James Heal is a robust and durable digital tear testing instrument, boasting a wide range of innovative features, including: a higher capacity of 128 newtons, automatic pendulum weight detection and automatic zeroing, plus sophisticated controls to help simplify and accelerate routine tear testing. >>Find out more

About Textile Testing International:

Textile Testing International has been in service since 1995, and is providing testing services to the apparel and textile industry. In today’s competitive market, the demand for textile products that perform as expected is more rigorous than ever. Consequently, it is the responsibility of both the Supplier and the Buyer to have an in-depth knowledge of the materials and components being used in the textile product, which will affect the serviceability of the end product. In this way, Textile Testing International has helped manufacturers, importers, retailers and others to improve their products and to meet the increasingly rigorous demands of today’s customers.

TTI website: http://ttilabs.net/beta/

James Heal wins second regional Award for Manufacturing excellence!

2010-11-22T10:05:00.005Z

Thursday 18th November was a night of celebration as James Heal were presented with an Award for “Manufacturer of the Year” at the fourth annual Courier Business Awards, which represent and recognise the strength of business in the Calderdale area. The event drew an impressive crowd of local businesses; from small business to large firms, covering a variety of industries from engineering to graphic design.

We were acknowledged by the judges for our continuous improvement to our manufacturing and production processes, such as the adoption of ‘LEAN’ and our recent investments to our infrastructure and people - the judges commenting that this reflects our “commitment to being an ambassador for Calderdale for nearly 140 years”.

The awards ceremony was held at Bertie’s Banqueting Rooms in Elland, and was hosted by the Halifax Courier newspaper and Clare Frisby, a well-known and respected television presenter in Yorkshire for BBC Look North.

David Repper, James Heal's Chairman and Managing Director, commented on receiving this award:

“We are absolutely delighted to have won our second regional manufacturing award within the space of one month. At James Heal, we believe passionately in our ability to design and manufacture innovative and competitively priced products. The Courier 'Manufacturer of the Year Award' recognises the Company's outstanding achievements of the last 12 months, and above all, acknowledges the creativity and dedication of the Management and of the entire workforce.”

View photographs from the event here. You can also view the write-up which is published in the Halifax Evening Courier newspaper on Tuesday 23rd November and on the Halifax Courier website from Wednesday 24th November .

Rachael
Marketing - James Heal

Shaping the Future of Textile Testing

2010-11-15T16:14:00.002Z

I'd like to share with you a recent article published in the Textile Institute 'Textiles' magazine - Centenary Issue, which was circulated to its readership this month in celebration of the Institute's 100 year Anniversary. As a respected figure in the Textile Industry, James Heal was approached to author an article on the importance of textile testing and the processes involved, and what the future holds for the industry.

This article was authored by our in-house expert, Peter Goodwin, Technical Manager.

Happy reading; feel free to post a comment if you have any feedback or questions.

Rachael Hibberd
Marketing - James Heal

Title: “Shaping the Future through Testing: Minimise risk, enhance customer satisfaction, reduce costs and achieve business growth”

Introduction:

Peter Goodwin, Technical Manager of James Heal, highlights the necessity to use calibrated testing instrumentation to ensure production of high quality fabrics and finished products to secure sustainable future growth.

Article Text:

The textile supply chain is long and complex; from raw materials to fabric manufacture, to garment makers and machinery manufacturers, all of varying size and resource. Within this chain sits ‘Textile Testing’, whose purpose is to test materials before, during and after material processing, to confirm the finished product quality. Stringent demands are being placed on fabric suppliers and finishers, who may be held financially liable for excess ‘seconds’ garments and losses for downtime and cancellation if it is proven that the fabric does not conform to the agreed specification. Understanding a material’s quality through testing at every stage is therefore critical for future success.

At the product development stage, testing is undertaken to minimise risk of customer rejects and claims. This saves money and enhances reputation. Quality assurance tests are then conducted at key points during bulk production to ensure that the expected finished performance of the product is achieved and allows time for corrective action to be taken. This saves money on future production. Post processing, quality assurance tests are conducted on the finished articles before shipping – this is to confirm that the buyer will accept the product and its delivery.

Textile testing assesses the fabric’s Physical Durability, Colourfastness, and Visual Appearance – usually based on standardised test methods as per the International and Retailer standards set by BS, DIN, EN, ISO, ASTM, JIS, Marks & Spencer, Next, JC Penney and so on. However, tests are useless if the results are not accurate - a laboratory’s results must correlate closely with its customer’s results. Therefore, a testing regime is required to ensure that the fabric or garment properties are suitable for the market sector in which they will be sold.

Laboratory instrumentation is extremely important, but valid test results are only obtained if all process variables are reduced to an acceptable minimum. It must utilise controlled conditions, and accurate, regularly serviced and calibrated instruments operated by well-trained technicians. Equally important are the consumables used to perform the tests; these must endure rigorous quality assurance to provide accurate results, reassuring users that the product will conform consistently.

What does the future hold for Textile Testing?

In today’s economic climate, retailers want to differentiate and offer value for money; so suppliers who can build strong relationships and offer flexibility, accuracy and quality will be favoured, leading to sustainable future growth. Clear communication will be vital at all times to avoid technical and quality-based problems and to create a positive mutual relationship.

James Heal’s philosophy is to maximise its support for the entire supply chain; through investments in its people and infrastructure, commitment to UK manufacturing, continuous product development and innovation, and by employing expert designers and technologists with in-depth applications knowledge, who understand market needs and turn these into solutions. A 138 year pedigree in textile testing has enabled James Heal to build a reputation as a knowledge leader in its field and act as a centre of expertise and excellence, benchmarking its testing instruments and developing fit-for-purpose complementary consumables, in addition to after-sales services - offering superior benefit to all of the organisations it works with.

Author Biography:

Name: Peter Goodwin
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Textile Technology and Management, CCol ASDC, HNC Textile Coloration

Peter Goodwin is a textile technologist with over 30 years’ experience, having read Textile Technology & Management at the University of Bolton and worked as Technical Manager at Alexander Drew for 17 years. Peter is currently Technical Manager at James Heal, where he has worked since August 2005.

New LinkedIn Group for Textile Professionals

2010-11-15T12:55:00.002Z

If you are using Social Media for business, then you are no doubt using LinkedIn for professional networking...

For Textile Industry professionals who are also a member of LinkedIn, I'd like to invite you to join the new 'Textile Testing Group' which has been created to discuss textile testing and any issues or questions that you may have on the subject; for discussions and latest industry news on Textile Testing Instruments and Consumables for Light and Colour fastness, Physical testing and other applications; plus information on laboratory design and development, testing consumables, calibration services, International and Retail Testing standards and test methods. >>Join the Textile Testing Group

James Heal have a strong reputation spanning nearly 140 years in the design, manufacture and distribution of a range of testing instruments and consumables for the textiles industry, and are recognised as a credible authority on textile testing and related issues. We have created this group to share ideas, insights, expertise and knowledge.

We hope to see some new members soon and trust that you find the Group useful!

Rachael Hibberd

Marketing - James Heal

Textile Testing: New LinkedIn Group for Textile Professionals

2010-11-15T12:55:00.001Z

Textile Testing: New LinkedIn Group for Textile Professionals

7 days and counting until the winner is revealed!

2010-11-11T09:41:00.004Z

The shortlist of finalists for the fourth annual ‘Evening Courier Business Awards’ was announced in October; and a familiar name was in the list of finalists for ‘Manufacturer of the Year’... yes, you guessed it, James Heal.

This is the second regional awards scheme that James Heal has been nominated for and reached the shortlist; we recently won the title of ‘SME Manufacturer of the Year 2010’ in the Yorkshire Post Excellence Business Awards. This is fantastic recognition for our company, highlighting that James Heal is an organisation dedicated to manufacturing excellence.

We are competing against two other local businesses in our category, which is sponsored by Crosslee. These are Zodion Ltd and Heights (UK) Ltd.

To be in the running for this Award we had to demonstrate our strengths; from recent business successes, to our impressive financial performance despite a difficult economy. Most importantly, as this is a regional award, is our ongoing commitment as an ambassador for the region, where we highlighted our strong heritage as manufacturer and a major employer in Halifax spanning some 140 years! This combined with our technical and engineering expertise and innovation across all three areas of the business, should hopefully work in our favour.

The winners in each category for the Courier Awards will be announced at a formal presentation ceremony in Elland on November 18th. Click here to see our nomination on the website.

Watch this space for an update of the results – hopefully I will be able to share some very good news!

Rachael Hibberd
Marketing - James Heal

James Heal crowned SME Manufacturer of the Year 2010!

2010-10-19T10:56:00.003+01:00

Thursday 14th October was a night to remember as James Heal were officially awarded the title of “SME Manufacturer of the Year” at the fifth annual Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards. The best of Yorkshire’s businesses were honoured for their remarkable feats of growth within their industries and contribution to the region.

The prestigious Manufacturing award highlights our credentials in manufacturing and engineering excellence, and was presented to James Heal because the judges were “impressed with [our] revenue growth, despite consistently challenging economic conditions, and also the fact that the company has been operating in the region for nearly 140 years, showing a strong heritage in Yorkshire manufacturing”.

The glittering awards ceremony was held at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds, and was hosted by the Yorkshire Post with speakers including George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who delivered an interesting key note speech relating to the new government’s spending review and plans to help regional businesses. Jon Culshaw, famous comedian and master of ceremonies, kept the audience well entertained with his impressions of leading personalities from the media and politics.

Other high profile guests included Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman of Marks & Spencer, who received a special award for Individual Excellence, and our own Managing Director David Repper and Sales Director Elliot Rich took the opportunity to do some networking and met with Sir Stuart to discuss James Heal’s specialism in textile testing and long-standing relationship with M&S [See photograph here].

David Repper, Managing Director, commented on receiving this award:

“The ‘SME Manufacturer of the Year 2010’ Award recognizes our exceptional progress towards creating a world class design and manufacturing facility. Equally, it underpins our strong commitment to remaining a long term UK manufacturer. I’d like to thank and pay tribute to our creative and talented employees, whose dedication to delivering an exceptional range of products and services has been justly rewarded.”

You can view video highlights from the event, by clicking this link:
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/Yorkshire-Post-Excellence-in-Business.6588225.jp

View the James Heal website at: http://www.textile-testing.co.uk/

View photographs from the event here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesheal/sets/72157625672984621/

Rachael Hibberd
Marketing - James Heal

James Heal finalists for "SME Manufacturer of the Year" Award!

2010-09-20T17:44:00.000+01:00

James Heal’s Board of Directors is delighted to announce that the Company has been shortlisted in the “Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards 2010”, under the category of “SME Manufacturer of the Year”, sponsored by the Manufacturing Advisory Service. Two other companies are also in the shortlist, Harvard Engineering and Surgical Innovations.

As the fifth annual awards scheme, it recognises excellence in the Yorkshire region amongst companies large and small. David Repper, Owner and Managing Director, James Heal, commented:

“Just being shortlisted in these awards is a great achievement in itself; it puts James Heal up against other high performers in the region and we are looking forward to finding out the results.”

To be in the running for this Award, James Heal had to demonstrate its strengths in manufacturing; from our 138 years’ heritage, to our technical and engineering expertise and innovation, through to quality control and risk management. It also acknowledged its strength in its people, whose continuous hard work and dedication ensures that the business continues to grow successfully.

Elliot Rich, James Heal’s Sales Director explains,

“The Company’s financial performance over the past three years has shown year on year growth despite a tough economic climate, and we have emerged from the recession stronger than ever with higher sales order levels than in the same period before the recession.”

Moreover, James Heal’s continuous appetite for strategic improvement is key, as Neil Pryke, James Heal’s Engineering Director highlights:

“Ongoing initiatives such as LEAN manufacturing, Capacity Planning and Routing, and logistical improvements to our Distribution Centre which has undergone a wide-scale refurbishment project, highlights that continuous improvement is at the heart of business strategy”.
In association with the Design Council, James Heal were 1 of 10 companies selected from 350,000 candidates in the region to take part in the intensive ‘Designing Demand Immerse’ programme, where businesses use design as a development tool.
The judging process, which includes judges from DLA Piper, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Yorkshire Bank, Bradford University, Yorkshire Forward and the Bank of England, concludes on Thursday 14th October 2010 where the winners will be announced at a formal awards ceremony in Leeds, UK, which also features a keynote speech from Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.

Click here to view shortlist on the Yorkshire Post website

James Heal launch innovative new Martindale product range!

2010-07-01T10:55:00.000+01:00

HEALS are proud to introduce their latest technological innovation in abrasion and pilling testing:

Martindale 900 SeriesTM

The 900 Series includes the Midi-MartindaleTM Model 905 - an industry first with 5 stations, which, in comparison to other 4-head instruments in the market, gives users the best quality at lower costs to suit their requirements. For higher capacity testing, the 9 station Maxi-MartindaleTM Model 909 has been developed, and is the only 9-head instrument in the market which offers full, comfortable access to all abrading tables from the front (without removing the top plate). >Learn More