COVERFEATURE
NEOPERL SALES FLOW IN Kevin Gates, MD at Neoperl
Neoperl UK make some of the most in-demand products you’ve probably never heard of. With millions sold globally last year, business is booming for their innovative water solutions. Not many companies can say the pandemic has been good for sales, but Neoperl – who make flow regulators for use in taps, showers and domestic appliances – are celebrating two record-breaking years. Between 2020-21, production rocketed by almost 20% for the Malvern based company. As MD Kevin Gates explains, there are two main reasons behind this explosion in growth: firstly, increased awareness of sustainability, and the need to use water and energy more responsibly; and secondly, better hygiene practices and changing shopping habits driven by the pandemic. He says, “Our flow regulators control the amount of water that comes out of taps etc, and they’re also used in appliances like home boilers to control inlet water flow, guarantee constant heat and prevent scalding. “For instance, by regulating water flow properly, people can wash their hands more often without unnecessary wastage. And as holidays were off limits for so long, people spent their spare cash on home improvements like kitchens and bathrooms instead, which has led to increased demand for faucets and touchless sensor taps.” Today exports account for 80% of Neoperl UK’s sales: as part of the German-Swiss Neoperl Group, many products go directly to sister companies around the world to be sold on directly or incorporated into items like aerators and check valves. Products are also bought back for UK resale.
“You could say that in the early days, demand followed the way that the pandemic moved around the world,” Kevin points out. “It first picked up in China, where Covid originated, before moving West. Now though we’re finding that demand is pretty consistent around the world.” Speaking of the Chinese, Kevin is pragmatic about their commercial advantage in terms of labour. However, innovation and efficiency keep Neoperl ahead of the game. “While the Chinese are very good reverse engineers, they’re not good at First Principles and product design,” he says. “I sometimes use the term ‘black art’ because everything can’t be designed and calculated to the nth degree. “This is where we hold the advantage: our many years of in-house experience keep us that important step ahead and protect our margins. Innovation and design are our lifeblood.”
“Our flow regulators control the amount of water that comes out of taps etc, and they’re also used in appliances like home boilers to control inlet water flow, guarantee constant heat and prevent scalding.” 030
Among recent exciting developments is Neoperl’s collaboration with the Kingfisher Group (owners of B&Q), to design a dual core regulator with two flow rings for use in both low and high pressure water environments. Where once different flow regulators had to be used depending on country of sale, now the same taps can be used anywhere in the world, with the same performance guarantee. And it goes without saying that Neoperl’s manufacturing capabilities are up there with the best. While not all assembly can be fully automated (manual dexterity is still needed for intricate products), the company has invested heavily in automation and new machinery to enhance flexibility in terms of production and keeping up with increasing demand. It hasn’t all been plain sailing – production capacity dropped 30% because of Covid measures. But by continually improving processes and efficiencies, Neoperl remains a vital cog in the supply chain. Kevin concludes, “At first, I used to say we’ve been lucky, but actually it’s not about luck, we’ve just managed the situation extremely well and continued operating by keeping our people safe.” More details at neoperl.com.
March/April 2022
