How the Harboro Rubber Company Are Still Leading Their Industry 125 Years On

By The Harboro Rubber Co Ltd
schedule28th Aug 19

In 1894, the Briggs family began an expansion with their business which would act as the beginning of a long and significant heritage. From a small boot-making shop in Leicester, to taking over Blandford’s Flour Mill in Market Harborough, Harboro have created a name for themselves as the leading supplier of rubber components both UK and Internationally.

2019 marks 125 years of the Harboro Rubber Company Limited - a heritage which has continued on through two World Wars, several periods of company investment, and an ever-developing industry.

Today, Harboro are an engineering company who provide a bespoke rubber moulding service including procurement of inserts, material development and special packaging / despatch needs. 

With a comprehensive expertise comprised of technical engineers, laboratory technicians, polymer technologists, chemists, metrology engineers and quality experts, the company is at the forefront of their industry and are always ensuring a continuous investment in facilities and machinery. This brings with it a constant attitude of expansion and forward-thinking.

Mike Stock, Managing Director of The Harboro Rubber Company, discusses the diverse use of the company’s products, stating:

“Harboro has always benefitted from servicing a wide selection of industries, supplying automotive, aerospace, marine, oil and gas, general engineering and the footwear sectors.”

In terms of customer service, Harboro takes a personal approach which allows for a direct experience with one of their dedicated Customer Services Administrators. This means that any time a client has an enquiry, Harboro ensures that everything is handled as effectively as possible - without utilising an automated system.

This attention-to-detail approach is also reflected in the manufacturing services they offer. Harboro operates with the understanding that, in today’s fast-changing markets, companies need a competitive edge more than ever in order to thrive. 

They ensure that every product they deliver is well-designed and highly-reliable, working closely with customers to advise them on aspects such as the most suitable materials, how to maximise component functions for the best cost / performance ratio, and how to manufacture at the lowest possible cost whilst maintaining quality. 

From there, Harboro takes a bespoke approach, reviewing all manufacturing data to seek areas where costs can be reduced, production simplified, and quality and reliability increased. Also, regular reviews are undertaken to ensure that all processes and designs are constantly improving and evolving alongside industry standards.

Harboro are also equipped with a specialist rubber bonding facility - this means they can bond rubber to metals, plastics, ceramics,  and to almost any other material that can withstand the temperatures and pressure.

Using their innovative approaches, they can even overmould special elastomers with inserts that have low melt temperatures, as well as offering an assembly service, and can mould multiple compounds/inserts where different properties, hardness or colours are required.

Another example of the company’s wide-reaching expertise is their ability to work with all commercially available rubber polymers and mould components, from a few millimetres to 750mm in size. Harboro predominantly manufacture in larger quantities: from 100’s for capital goods, 1,000’s for industrial goods; to millions for consumer and automotive goods.

Most of their products are manufactured in their UK facilities, and they export out to over 30 countries worldwide. 

When discussing the future of The Harboro Rubber Company, Mr. Stock is especially looking towards the automotive industries: 

“There is a global transformation underway in automotive power systems with EV and EV/hybrid vehicles, and the necessary infrastructure which will require natural and synthetic derived rubber components to function.

“Harboro has been serving the automotive sector for over 50 years in the UK and Europe and is well-placed to embrace the new opportunities the transformation will bring and will support the sector as it evolves.”

As well as ensuring the continuation of their industry-renowned quality, Harboro are also making improvements to their brand identity. Their website is currently being reworked to better reflect their innovative style, and new investments are being made into raising the profile of their famous Dainite brand. 

Of course, when considering the future of the UK manufacturing sectors, the topic of Brexit is always looming. Harboro is taking an optimistic stance whilst they move forward, with Mr. Stock stating:

“Weakness in the global economy and Brexit uncertainties are certainly present and may challenge past norms, likely demanding innovation and resolve. Harboro are well set to manage that landscape with strong financials, a rich heritage and an inherent tendency to embrace high technology and automation for the competitive advantages these deliver.”

Ultimately, The Harboro Rubber Company continue to excel as the leading supplier of rubber components through high attention to detail on all fronts of business, from bespoke client projects to effective customer service. As they celebrate their 125th year, Harboro are set to continue their well-established pattern of excellence and success. 

Impressed by Harboro’s strong heritage and industry expertise?

Get in touch with The Harboro Rubber Company today and find out how they can provide bespoke, effective and cost-saving projects for your business.


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