Eclipse Magnetics has been named the winner of the Excellence in Sustainable Innovation (UK & EMEA) category at the IPE Awards 2024, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in magnetic technology solutions and sustainability. The company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and cutting-edge innovation has earned it this prestigious accolade, which recognises businesses that are driving sustainable practices across industries.
The IPE Awards celebrate business excellence across various sectors, with a particular focus on sustainability, process improvement, and innovation. Eclipse Magnetics, which specialises in magnetic filtration, separation, and detection systems, stood out among competitors for its forward-thinking approach to sustainable solutions and its continuous efforts to minimise environmental impact.
Pioneering Sustainability Through Innovation
Eclipse Magnetics has implemented a range of sustainable practices, both within its operations and through the development of products that help its customers reduce energy consumption, improve efficiency, and cut down waste. The company’s magnetic separation solutions, for instance, have been recognised for their ability to enhance manufacturing efficiency while reducing reliance on disposable filters to reduce environmental waste.
Commenting on the award, Steve McAllorum, Group MD of Eclipse Magnetics, said: “We are incredibly honoured to receive this award. This is a testament to our team’s dedication to designing sustainable products which assist our customers in prioritising their own environmental goals whilst enhancing their process efficiency. Working towards Net Zero is a core goal for our organisation and we are proud to be recognised for our dedication to this.”
Leading by Example
The company has also been proactive in reducing its own carbon footprint, by implementing energy-efficient systems, reducing waste through recycling initiatives, and optimising logistics to minimise emissions. Through its Net Zero strategy, Eclipse Magnetics has aligned its corporate objectives with the growing demand for sustainability in the industrial sector.
This award serves as an endorsement of Eclipse Magnetics’ broader mission to lead by example, demonstrating how sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand to create value for both businesses and the environment.
Employees from across the Spear and Jackson Group came together to enjoy our very own summer football competition on Tuesday 16th July 2024. After the disappointment of the Euros final on the Sunday before where England were beaten to the cup by Spain, our teams finally gave us something to cheer about!
Spirits were high and it was a fantastic evening full of fun, laughter and a little healthy competition. It was Bowers Group and Eclipse Magnetics Ltd vs Robert Sorby Ltd and Spear & Jackson UK Ltd going head to head in the big game. Robert Sorby Ltd and Spear & Jackson UK Ltd were victorious with a final score of 15 to 2, with Bowers Group’s Kevin Sumpter and Shaun Maxfield on the score sheet.
A huge well done to all who took part and to everyone who came by to support our teams, what a fantastic way to raise group spirits.
Spear & Jackson Australia proudly made our debut at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in March, and it was a tremendous success. We showcased our premium gardening tools to an enthusiastic crowd of gardening enthusiasts and professionals at the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Our booth quickly became a highlight, drawing visitors eager to see and try out our top-quality gardening tools. Everyone had ample opportunities to get hands-on with our garden cutting tools, such as precision pruners and ergonomic spades. Attendees appreciated the quality and innovative design of our products, noting their durability and comfortable use.
The show offered a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with the gardening community. Our knowledgeable staff were on hand to engage with visitors, demonstrating our tools, answering questions, and sharing expert gardening tips. It was wonderful to see so many people passionate about gardening and interested in what we have to offer.
Participants valued the practical advice and hands-on experience, which helped them enhance their gardening skills using our premium tools.
We also organized a Jelly Bean competition for school-aged visitors, which was a fantastic success. The competition drew enthusiastic participation, and the winner was recently presented with their prize at a school assembly, creating a memorable moment for the young gardening enthusiast.
Our first-time participation in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show significantly boosted our brand visibility in Australia. The event’s extensive media coverage, combined with our active social media engagement, ensured that the impact of our presence was felt far beyond the show’s duration.
Reflecting on our successful debut, we are excited about future opportunities. “Attending the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show for the first time has been an incredible experience for us, the positive feedback we’ve received on our premium gardening tools validates our commitment to quality and innovation. We’re eager to continue supporting the gardening community and look forward to participating in more events like this.”
The Spear & Jackson Group is celebrating 10 years of ownership. A note from our chairman Simon Hsu.
“A big congratulation to us for our 10th anniversary! Our first milestone…
When I acquired Spear & Jackson Group back on 30th of May 2014, I told the senior management then I would be a long-term investor (not sure how many of them believed me). I told them I am patient, and I will further invest to make our group more competitive and boost moral through proper management structure and incentives.
In the past 10 years, we have invested heavily in new plant and equipment in all of our operations, along with a complete office refurbishment at the Atlas headquarters. New initiatives like the Spear & Jackson licensing programme have caught traction and contributed significantly to the group’s bottom line. One of my favourite things has been the introduction of the popular annual Christmas party for all our colleagues, and our social and charity events as the Group has embraced its ESG responsibilities.
Stability of ownership has allowed our Group to grow, develop markets and gain brand momentum without distraction. Of course, we have been thrown a few curve balls during the past 10 years. Covid, the aftermath of the pandemic and even the blackout of the Atlas site when our transformer station was destroyed by a lorry, but we have got through it all, thanks to our resilient and dedicated colleagues.
Our job is not done, in fact it has just begun! While there’s plenty of adversity both geopolitically and economically, I am confident we can weather the storms with our people and our Group’s solid financial standing!
I want to thank you all once again! Happy Anniversary!!
Best Personal Regards, Simon
Bowers Group is celebrating its most successful showcase to date at this year’s MACH Exhibition. Held at the NEC in Birmingham, the event marked a significant milestone for the company, highlighting its commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of metrology.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the fantastic response we received at MACH Exhibition,” said Martin Hawkins, Managing Director at Bowers Group. “Our meticulous planning for our largest event to date truly paid off. With our bigger-than-ever stand, we were able to showcase our latest innovations and demonstrated our prowess in delivering efficient metrology solutions. It proved to be our busiest exhibition to date, allowing us to engage with a wealth of industry professionals and explore collaboration opportunities. We’re excited about the upcoming weeks as we reconnect with visitors and start putting plans into action for them.”
At the exhibition, Bowers Group unveiled its latest products and measurement solutions, including the brand new Baty Venture FV series. Visitors to the stand had the exclusive opportunity to experience live demonstrations of the field of view machine, seeing firsthand its capabilities in providing fast and accurate measurements of multiple parts.
This innovative field of view machine offers impressive accuracy and efficiency, enabling users to conduct precise measurements across various applications. With features such as its simple user interface, automatic measuring and dimensioning, and ultra-fast reporting, the Baty Venture FV streamlines inspection processes and boosts productivity.
Alongside the Baty Venture FV series, Bowers Group displayed a diverse range of metrology instruments, hand tools, and vision systems from its brands and trusted partners such as Moore & Wright, Trimos, Sylvac, WYLER, and Gagemaker. Attendees also got a glimpse of Bowers’ new surface form and geometry machinery, offering precise measurements of contours and roundness.
To mark the event, the Bowers team took the opportunity to stage a number of informative demonstrations of a range of its products live at the event, which are now available to watch on the company’s YouTube channel and across its social media platforms. These demonstrations offer valuable insights into its innovative metrology solutions, highlighting their capabilities and benefits for those who couldn’t attend the show.
For more information about Bowers Group and its range of metrology solutions, visit www.bowersgroup.co.uk, or view the product demos now at https://www.youtube.com/@BowersGroupUK
Following a short hiatus, Spear & Jackson is confirmed to return to the 2024 edition of Glee which takes place at the NEC in September. Glee is the unmissable event at the heart of the garden retail industry and S&J are excited to return to the annual trade exhibition where they will showcase an extensive range of quality hand tools, including a first look at the new introductions ahead of the 2025 season.
S&J Marketing Manager, Karen Abbott says “We’ve always enjoyed our time at Glee and are so pleased to see it return to a September schedule. For us this timing aligns perfectly with our sourcing and buying cycles, meaning we can exhibit fully armed with our complete new product proposition and a clear picture of what is in the pipeline for the year ahead.”
In a heartfelt tribute, the Spear and Jackson Group has proudly contributed to the installation of a life-saving defibrillator at Lutterworth Golf Club.
This essential device, now fully accessible on the exterior of the golf club, was funded through the efforts of Ben Brand, Bowers Group’s MMC Demonstration Manager. Ben put forward the cause as part of the S&J Charity Action Group’s initiative that allocates a portion of the group’s profits to charitable causes that resonate with its employees.
After the tragic loss of Ben’s friend, Mark Hine, who was a member of Lutterworth Golf Club, the critical need for accessible defibrillators was more apparent than ever before. Mark’s untimely passing highlighted the crucial importance of having immediate access to this lifesaving equipment.
The defibrillator was arranged through the OurJay Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing future tragedies by ensuring 24/7 availability of defibrillators across Rugby, Warwickshire and further afield. The foundation’s mission is to provide immediate help during cardiac emergencies, significantly improving survival rates.
Ellie Skinner, Marketing Manager at Bowers Group, and representative of the Spear & Jackson Charity Action Group expressed her support: “We are delighted to contribute to the OurJay Foundation’s incredible mission and this initiative not only commemorates Ben’s friend but also reinforces our commitment to community well-being. Accessible defibrillators can make the difference between life and death, and we are proud to support such a critical mission.”
The installation of the defibrillator at Lutterworth Golf Club marks a significant step towards improving community safety and ensuring that life-saving measures are readily available. The Bowers Group and the S&J Charity Action Group remain committed to supporting charitable causes that have a profound impact on people’s lives.
For more information on the OurJay Foundation and how you can contribute to their efforts, please visit their website at: www.ourjay.org.uk
During the first half of 2024, Spear & Jackson France carried out their first carbon assessment, a step that is both part of and testimony to our ongoing commitment to sustainable development.
The business studied their emissions for the fiscal year from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 on scopes 1, 2 and 3, and the review enabled Spear & Jackson France to consider the following issues:
- Quantify our activity in terms of ecological impact
- Integrate this management tool into our continuous improvement approach
- Take a cross-functional look at our organization
- Raise awareness of the impact of our business model
- Raise awareness among staff and other stakeholders
Spear & Jackson France’s emissions over this period correspond to the equivalent of 295 round-the-world trips by car!
Not even the rain could dampen the atmosphere at the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The Team at Spear & Jackson UK has recently returned to the show where there were more umbrellas than usual on display amongst the flowers and show gardens thanks to the great British weather! Fortunately, gardeners are a hardy crew and were not deterred by the rain from stocking up on the garden tools on offer on the S&J stand. Some of the most popular items this year were the new Telescopic Easy Reach Pruner along with the Kew Flower Spade, and it seems that everyone wants a new pair of gardening gloves!
For the second year in succession S&J teamed up with fellow Sheffield-based company, Orchis Floral Designs who created the floral displays for the stand. This year Orchis created a display using typical English cottage garden plants featuring contorted willow branches laced with climbing passion flowers. The RHS enforce strict rules around plant health at the show, this means that the plants were required to have their own plant passport to prove that they were cultivated in the UK by reputable growers.
In addition to the impressive show gardens at Chelsea there are many other interesting and unusual things to see. It was an unexpected pleasure to discover the @gardenandwood stand where we found some vintage Spear & Jackson tools for sale amongst a selection of other garden antiques and collectibles. S&J tools have a well-deserved reputation as the ‘Tools to Trust’ and it was great to see these items enjoying a new lease of life.
Bowers Group is delighted to announce its sponsorship of Coney Hill Rugby Club’s Junior Section, supporting the young athletes in their development on the field.
Managing Director, Martin Hawkins, said: “Bowers Group is thrilled to extend our support to Coney Hill Rugby Club’s junior section, championing grassroots rugby and nurturing the talents of our future England players. It’s a journey many of us have embarked upon, and we understand the importance of providing our young athletes with the support and encouragement they need to thrive.”
Despite a few setbacks with weather-related cancellations of home games with waterlogged pitches, the junior teams have had a remarkable season.
The under 8s team maintained an unbeaten streak throughout the season with the under 11s team, having played 17 games, experienced defeat only twice, demonstrating the outstanding performance and dedication of both teams.
The Yellow Hammers, as they are affectionately known, have expressed their appreciation to Bowers Group for the sponsorship that has contributed to their successful season.
Bowers Group is proud to support the local community and encourage the development of young talent through its sponsorship of Coney Hill Rugby Club.
