Press Release - Apollo Adhesives Creates 'The Sound of Silence'

Date: 29 January 2004

As a leader in the development and supply of industrial adhesives for manufacturers in a diverse range of industry sectors, products ranging from footwear to aircraft seats, aerospace components to electronics are glued together using Apollo adhesives with specific application properties, Apollo Adhesives is skilled in matching solutions to problems. 

Based in Tamworth, Staffordshire, Apollo is an independent, British-owned company, enjoying an enviable reputation for innovation, technical expertise, quality and service.  It is the commitment to building long-term relationships with customers and suppliers which has earned Apollo its standing in the marketplace.  It was Apollo's 'customer friendly', problem-solving policies that first attracted Hodgson & Hodgson to the company several years ago, and which have cemented the relationship over the intervening years.

The Hodgson & Hodgson Group is a giant in its own field, having an £18 million turnover, and employing 250 people at seven sites across the UK; the two main sites are in Burton on Trent and Old Dalby in the East Midlands, with the other five being satellite sites.  Hodgson and Hodgson is a thermal and acoustic insulation fabricator, bringing insulation and noise reduction solutions to a number of household names. 

Creda and Stoves, and the rail carriage manufacturers (Alstom and Bombardier) buy products manufactured at its Burton site.  Old Dalby produces acoustic products for specialist vehicles such as the prestigious Aston Martin car, JCB, Caterpillar and the building industry.  Audiology Rooms in hospitals, where the accuracy of hearing tests is dependent on the absence of intrusive external noise, have benefited greatly from Hodgson and Hodgson's expertise.  Conversely, acoustic panels are used for noise reduction and containment; they can keep noise in as well as keep it out, and many school buildings incorporate them!

Hodgson and Hodgson's products comprise layers of material, glued together with an adhesive.  The Group initially sourced adhesives from two suppliers, one of which was Apollo, but as the relationship with Apollo grew and developed, a deliberate decision was taken to transfer all its business to one company; that company was Apollo.  Paul Pickup, Production Director, from Hodgson and Hodgson explains, "We were drawn by Apollo's superior product development programme, attractive pricing policy and their pro-active approach to business.  We needed to reduce manufacturing costs, improve production and eliminate the need to buy multiple products."

Environmentally Friendly Too

Another concern faced by Hodgson and Hodgson were environmental issues associated with the adhesives it used.  Most adhesives contain a solvent, which is released into the atmosphere during application.  To enable it to meet stringent targets set by local authorities, Hodgson and Hodgson needed to find an alternative adhesive which would be both effective and environmentally friendly without incurring a major investment cost in new production equipment. 

"We are ever mindful of both the need to provide customers with an efficient adhesive which allows them to fulfil their manufacturing role in a cost-effective and reliable way, and at the same time, to protect the environment," comments Ian Cornelius, Apollo's Sales Manager.  "Apollo has developed a range of solvent free adhesives based on polyurethane technology and Hodgson and Hodgson has elected to use Fastack, a revolutionary two-part polyurethane adhesive which, with no emissions, helps customers to meet ISO 14001 standards and much reduces the harmful effects on the environment.  Apollo has held the ISO 14001 standard for over two years." 

"Another benefit to Hodgson and Hodgson," he adds, "is the reduction it affords in production time and therefore costs - the innovative Fastack is sticky on application and does away with the inefficiency of waiting time.  The product meets all of our needs."

Paul Pickup cannot speak too highly of Apollo and its personnel: "As a company, Apollo has an excellent attitude.  I have found them to be flexible, open minded and willing to get to the ultimate end of a product's technical abilities.  We work well together and have created a good partnership.  It's all about people.  If they say they are going to do something, they do it - there is honesty on both sides.  The important thing is that they are there, listening and reacting to our needs."

He goes on to say, "They have enabled us to make fundamental changes to our production capacity and capability." As a result of the relationship with Apollo, Hodgson and Hodgson has purchased a new machine, improved the layout of the factory, and increased the throughput.  Paul Pickup ends by saying: "The manufacturing advantages afforded by Apollo's pioneering adhesives have offset the investment costs, and have made the company more efficient and reliable."