Friday 21 November 2008

History of Kepston:

1916 Company founded in Berkhamsted
1934 Ben Greene entered Kepston (cousin of author Graham Greene)
1948 Heat Treatment company established at Milnathort, Kinross-shire
1950's Ben Greene developed the Kepston Hydrogen Furnace
1964 Samuel Alper OBE entered Kepston
1970 George Millage entered Kepston as Managing Director
1973 Kepston was founded to manufacture Magnetic Screens
1976 A Heat Treatment plant was acquired at Whitburn, West Lothian
1977 A third Heat Treatment & Brazing site was established at Aldridge, West Midlands
1984 Kepston was transferred from Milnathort to Aldridge as was head office, Milnathort site was closed
1986 A Heat Treatment & Brazing company was acquired at Wednesbury, West Midlands
1987 The group achieved BS 5750 Accreditation - Upgraded to ISO 9002 in 1994
1990 The acquisition of Telcon special products was completed
1991 75th Anniversary - George Millage became Chairman, Brent Millage became Managing Director
1993+4 Company of the Year awards won two years running
1994 Phoenix Brazing acquired and added to the Wednesbury facilities
1994 CB Tools acquired and added to the Kepston facilities at Aldridge
1994 Kepston starts long term relationship with a local primary school
1995 First Heat Treatment company to gain the Investors in People accreditation
1997 Stainless Steel Brazing facilities added to the Wednesbury site
1998 Roy Brooks - Jig Grinding KTD acquired and transferred to Aldridge
1998 Reassessed for Investors in People
1999 Mahler Hump Back furnace added (Annealing & Brazing of ST/ST)
1999 ISO 9002 accreditation for jig grinding
2000 Additional Nitriding capacity added
2000 Change of name, back to Kepston Ltd
2000 60% Increase in Press capacity
2001 Restructure of Midlands Plants
2001 2nd new Mahler furnace added
2001 Launch of new 3yr Business plan
2001 Launch of Flame brazing section (Aluminium)
2001 1st CNC Jig grinder purchased
2002 3rd new mahler furnace installed
2002 1st contract signed in Czech Republic
2003 New Hauser jig grinder installed
2003 ISO 9001:2000 upgrade for the UK sites
2003 1st plant installed in Czech Republic
2003 Tuftride Q plant ordered (will be the largest in sub contract H/T in UK)
2004 UK sites approved to ISO 14001
2004 Introduction of new software to help monitor all areas of the business to assist with TS16949 implementation. 
2004 Move to new site in Czech Republic
2005 All UK sites approved to ISO 14001:1996 Environmental Standard
2005 New Kellenberger Kel-Viva CNC Universal Grinder installed
2006 All UK sites upgraded to ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Standard