One of Dorset’s manufacturing success stories is to invest £5m in a new Material Science Centre as it continues to expand its operations.

Superior Seals has already received outline planning permission for the centre which will be on its main site on the Ferndown Industrial Estate.

If the final green light is given by planners, it’s hoped the new facility will be opened within the next 18 months or so.

Ten new jobs are expected to be created.

Tim Brown, Managing Director, said: “This is our next major development and we’re very excited.”

The privately owned, family-run company, which celebrates its 50^th anniversary next year, manufactures high integrity o-rings and seals.

They’re used in just about every type of product and application imaginable.

Sectors range from building and construction, industrial, automotive and chemical processing to food & beverage and life sciences/pharmaceutical.

The only sector not served is the aerospace industry.

“Seals may be a low cost and small part of a product but they are absolutely critical,” said Tim.

From its origins in the family garage of Tim’s parents in London 49 years ago, Superior Seals has grown to an annual turnover of £40m.

It now employs 192 people across five sites – four in Ferndown covering 100,000 sq ft and one in Woolsbridge.

Seventy per cent of its products are exported.

It’s a far cry from 1976 when Tim, now 64, first joined the business.

He said: “We had 18 employees and if we made £20,000 a month we thought it was good.

“I still remember to this day arriving by train, standing on Bournemouth’s East Cliff and just going ‘wow’.

“Dorset is an absolutely beautiful place to live and work and we are very fortunate.”

Despite intensive competition from across the globe, Superior Seals has continued to go from success to success.

Tim said: “We’ve always invested very heavily in productivity, equipment and automation.

“We’ve also invested heavily in material science with our own team of chemists developing materials.

“As a family-run company, we can take a longer-term view.”

Tim’s son, David, 39, – pictured with Tim – joined Superior Seals 14 years ago and is now on the Board as Operations Director.

Another son, Alister, 34, works in logistics.

In 2009, Superior recognised the need to address an aging workforce and increasing skills shortage in engineering and material science.

It took a proactive decision to invest in a £1m in-house training academy and engineering workshop.

The company-run Superior Academy – headed by Katie Bodman – was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Kent in 2012.

It offers apprenticeships to students from as young as 16 through to graduates.

The far-sighted decision has paid dividends, future-proofing the business and ensuring a constant pipeline of future leaders and highly skilled engineers.

In fact, Tim says the company’s investment in apprenticeships is one of his – and Superior’s – proudest achievements as well as its ability to retain loyal staff.

He said: “Since 2009 we have had 64 apprentices and retained 31 of them.

“And 19 of those 31 are still in education which represents ten per cent of our workforce.

“Four apprentices joined us this month and we look forward to seeing them growing and developing with the business.”

One such apprentice – back in 2013 – was James Rowe, now Sales Manager, pictured with Tim and David.

He joined from Corfe Hills School and within three years was going on his first business trip to America.

Now aged 26 he makes four to five trips a year to the USA and looks after customers in 45 countries.

“It’s better than I could ever have imagined,” said James.

Careers fairs play a key role in bringing the work of Superior – and its apprenticeship programme – to the notice of young people.

This week saw the first face-to-face event in more than 18 months with a presentation at Highcliffe School.

“We’ve missed them and it’s good to have them back,” said Tim.

In 2016 Tim received the MBE for services to apprenticeships and charity.

An ambassador of Julia’s House children’s hospice he’s proud of Superior’s commitment to charitable causes.

Last year it contributed £70,000 to good causes and, in normal times, staff take part in all types of fundraising activities.

Tim said: “I’m immensely proud of our business and the people who work within it.

“We see ourselves continuing to grow our markets, both here in the UK and overseas.

“I’m very confident about the future.”