Hundreds of years in the making

The Icon Polymer Group is celebrating 300 years of manufacturing experience as two of its oldest brands – Silvertown (BTR) and Northern Rubber – both near their 150th birthdays. Silvertown, Burton-on-Trent, home of Icon Group's Silentbloc (UK) Ltd, is 140 this year whilst Northern Rubber, Retford, was established in 1873.

Sales Director Neal Hillier said: "As a business we are always looking to the future and at ways of improving our products and our services. Celebrating these significant anniversaries enables us to remember our many accomplishments and the vast array of material, product and customer approvals gained over the decades. The level of expertise developed over the years provides Icon with a unique platform and one that the current management team fully recognise.

Icon Polymer has adapted and changed the type of components it manufactures over the years, now supplying high performance parts for aerospace, defence, transportation and energy generation applications. Its products range from aerodynamic seals and air-to-air refuelling hoses to customised vibration control components in rail and construction vehicles, exporting to over 32 countries.

Changing times have also seen the growth of new markets, with Icon exporting to China, Russia, India and Brazil, as well as across Europe and the US.

Neal Hillier said: "The people who worked for Northern Rubber and Silvertown in the early days would certainly see some differences in our production and the way the business is managed today. But I would like to think they would be pleased that a British manufacturing company is still enjoying great success and building on such long established brands."