The highlight of the tour was the hands-on experience where our guests got the chance to craft their own copper water technology fittings. As a family-run business, it was a pleasure to connect with three generations of plumbers, sharing stories about our mutual passion for the trade while showcasing how our processes have evolved.

_{(Left – George Booth, MB Plumber (Marcus Bull), Apprentice Morgan – Right)}

During the visit, we also shared a deeper insight into our copper tube manufacturing process, emphasising our focus on precision and sustainability. Our commitment to zero wastage in the production process is something we take seriously.

Watch the video below to hear from Mark Tandy, one of our skilled colleagues, talking through the process of forming and manipulating copper tubes into fittings. The journey begins with forming the end of the copper tube, which results in no material loss. The only by-product created is swarf, produced during operations such as facing the front, undercutting the back to eliminate burrs, and parting off the product.

Even though swarf is inevitable in this process, we ensure that all byproducts are handled responsibly. We collect scrap material monthly and recycle it, making our copper tube manufacturing process 100% sustainable. Copper, being fully recyclable, allows us to contribute to a circular economy while maintaining the highest quality standards for our products.

At Wardtec, we believe that innovation and sustainability should go hand-in-hand. Our zero-waste approach not only minimises environmental impact but also ensures that each piece we manufacture meets exacting quality standards. By continually improving our processes, we’re able to offer superior products while contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.

Whether it’s hosting generations of plumbers or refining our manufacturing techniques, we remain dedicated to the principles that define us, quality, sustainable innovation, and family tradition.

The post Sustainable Innovation in Copper Tube Manufacturing at Lawton Tubes appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

2. Air Source Heat Pumps

Why Heat Pumps Matter
For the UK to achieve its ‘Net Zero’ target by 2050, it is estimated that over half of all homes will need to adopt heat pump central heating, up from the current 1%. With over 80% of UK homes still relying on gas boilers, the heating industry is facing significant changes, particularly the phasing out of gas boilers, especially in new constructions.

Key Considerations
Heat pumps are extremely efficient and environmentally friendly compared to traditional gas or oil boilers. Although they require electricity to operate, this can be sourced from renewable energy, such as wind or solar power. While they are more expensive to install than gas boilers, they are much more cost-effective in the long run, offering a good return on investment. However, they may not be suitable for every property type, especially high-rise apartments or homes with limited outdoor space. They are also more complex to install, particularly in retrofitting projects. But they are ideal for new builds, where all factors can be considered from the outset. Though already popular in Europe, the UK is increasingly embracing heat pump technology, and proper understanding and setup are crucial to maximizing their efficiency.

Why Heat Pumps Matter to Wardtec
Wardtec is a leading producer and supplier of components for the hot water cylinder industry. Both air and ground source heat pumps require a hot water cylinder to facilitate heat transfer for central heating and hot water supply. Currently, a significant portion of the UK market relies on combi boilers, which do not require hot water cylinders. However, as combi boilers are phased out, more homes will need hot water cylinders to work with heat pumps.

This anticipated increase in demand for hot water cylinders has prompted Wardtec to expand its capacity and expertise, ensuring we remain a trusted and reliable supply partner to manufacturers of hot water cylinders and related heat pump components. As hot water cylinders become more complex, Wardtec is committed to meeting these evolving market requirements by continuously developing our manufacturing processes and supply systems to ensure long-term reliability and quality.

The post Heat Pumps Explained and Why They Matter to Wardtec appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

These advanced systems require cylinders made from strong materials like stainless steel grades 316 and Duplex, known for their high-pressure resilience and corrosion resistance.

This trend towards more robust and efficient energy solutions is reshaping the industry, prompting advancements in material use and manufacturing techniques.

As the demand for durable, high-performance components rises, the industry’s focus on sustainability and technological innovation becomes increasingly important.

In this landscape, stainless steel stands out as an essential material that guarantees the longevity and reliability of energy systems across various industries.

Advantages of Stainless Steel Fittings:

Stainless steel fittings are integral to industries requiring durability and reliability. Their key advantages include:

• Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel withstands environmental challenges, such as exposure to corrosive chemicals or saline conditions, protecting systems from rust and decay.
• Longevity: The durability of stainless steel fittings reduces the need for frequent replacements, providing a long-term, cost-effective solution for industrial applications.
• Strength: Stainless steel fittings are capable of withstanding high pressures and temperatures, making them essential for safety and efficiency in demanding operations.
• Hygiene: Stainless steel’s water-resistant surface prevents bacterial contamination, making it ideal for sectors like food processing, healthcare, and water management.

Opting for Wardtec to supply your stainless steel fittings offers several unique advantages:

• Wide Range: We specialise in all grades of stainless steel, with a focus on 316 and Duplex grades, ensuring products suited for both general and high-corrosion environments. The 316 Grade is known for its enhanced corrosion resistance and durability, suitable for a wide array of environments. While Duplex grade offers even greater strength and corrosion resistance, ideal for extremely harsh conditions.

• Customisation and Flexibility: Whether it’s small batches or large orders, we adapt to your needs with tailored supply plans.

• Advanced Manufacturing: Utilising the latest CNC technology, we ensure every fitting is crafted with precision.

• ISO 9000 Certified: Our commitment to quality is backed by our ISO 9000 certification, reflecting our industry-leading standards. In addition, every stainless steel fitting undergoes rigorous inspection, ensuring adherence to the highest standards.

• Material Certification: We provide comprehensive material certification at no extra cost, ensuring complete traceability.

Types of Stainless Steel Fittings:

Stainless steel fittings come in various shapes and designs, each tailored to meet specific requirements in plumbing and heating systems.

Understanding these different types can help professionals choose the right fittings for their specific installation needs.

Here are some of the most used stainless steel fittings in water cylinder and heat pump applications:

• Elbows: These fittings change the direction of the flow in a piping system. Elbows are typically available in two angles, 45 degrees and 90 degrees, allowing for directional change without a significant pressure drop. They are crucial in compact spaces where the piping needs to navigate around obstacles.
• Tees: Tees are T-shaped fittings that split or combine the flow in a system. They are used when branching off to different fixtures or when two sources converge into one. Tees come in various types, including equal tees, which have the same size openings, and reducing tees, which have one smaller outlet for controlled flow distribution.
• Couplings: Used to connect two pieces of pipe together, couplings come in two types—regular and reducing. Regular couplings connect pipes of the same diameter while reducing couplings connect pipes of different diameters. These are essential for extending or altering the length of a pipe run.
• Reducers: These fittings connect pipes of different diameters, allowing for a smooth transition and minimising turbulence and energy loss. Reducers come in two forms: concentric reducers, which are symmetrical and ideal for vertical piping, and eccentric reducers, which maintain one side of the pipe level, preferred in horizontal applications.
• Adapters: Adapters transition between different types or sizes of pipes or between threaded and non-threaded connections. They are crucial for integrating components from different systems or standards and ensuring compatibility across various equipment.
• Flanges: Flanges are another type of fitting used to connect pipes, valves, pumps, and other equipment to form a piping system. They provide easy access for cleaning, inspection, or modification. Stainless steel flanges are highly resistant to corrosion, making them ideal for harsh environments and ensuring a secure and leak-proof connection.

Each type of fitting plays a vital role in the overall functionality and efficiency of water cylinder and heat pump systems.

Selecting the appropriate stainless steel fitting is not only about ensuring physical fit but also about enhancing the longevity and performance of your whole system.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Stainless Steel Fittings:

Selecting the right stainless steel fittings is critical to the success of any project involving water cylinders or heat pump systems, and there are several factors you should consider:

• Material Grade: Select the grade that best suits your environmental needs. For example, Grade 316 offers excellent corrosion resistance, ideal for harsh conditions. Others common grades you could consider are 304 and Duplex.
• Size and Dimensions: Ensure that the fittings match the size and dimensions of your existing system. Keep in mind that incorrect sizing can lead to leaks, increased pressure drops, and even system failure!
• Threading Options: Choose the correct threading type for compatibility with your system and to ensure leak-free connections.
• Compatibility with Piping Systems: The fittings must be compatible with the operating conditions and materials of your existing system to ensure proper functionality.
• Supplier Quality: Assess the supplier’s commitment to quality. A reputable supplier should adhere to stringent quality standards and provide necessary certifications – for example, our ISO 9001 certification indicates a good Quality Management System. For a deeper look into evaluating supplier quality, read this article.
• Project Requirements and Budget: Balance performance needs with your budget, choosing fittings that offer the best value without compromising safety or functionality.

To guarantee the long-term efficiency and safety of stainless steel fittings, proper installation and routine maintenance are crucial.

The following tips provide industry-specific best practices to help you install and maintain stainless steel fittings effectively:

Stainless Steel Fittings Installation Tips:

• Check Compatibility: Before installation, ensure the fittings are fully compatible with the existing pipes in terms of material, size, and threading. For hot water cylinder and heat pump systems, pay attention to pressure ratings and material compatibility.
• Prepare the Surface: Clean all surfaces thoroughly to remove any dirt, grease, or debris that might impair a tight seal.
• Accurate Alignment: Carefully align fittings to ensure proper placement and orientation. This prevents stress on pipes and fittings, reducing the risk of leaks and failures.
• Use the Right Tools: Use appropriate tools for installation to avoid damaging the fittings. Do not overtighten, as this can strip threads or crack the fittings.
• Effective Sealing: To prevent leaks in threaded connections, use appropriate thread sealants compatible with stainless steel. Teflon tape or pipe dope can be used, but ensure it is suitable for the system’s temperature and pressure.

Common Industry Applications

Stainless steel fittings are indispensable in water cylinder and heat pump systems, where their resistance to corrosion ensures the longevity and efficiency of these setups. Common applications include:

• Pressure Maintenance: In water cylinders, stainless steel fittings are used to maintain optimal pressure levels, ensuring a consistent water supply, and preventing system damage due to pressure variations.
• Temperature Regulation: Heat pump systems benefit from the thermal resistance of stainless steel fittings, which can handle varying temperatures without degrading, crucial for systems that undergo frequent temperature changes.
• Connection Integrity: The superior strength and leak resistance of stainless steel fittings ensure tight, secure connections in both water cylinders and heat pumps, preventing leaks and maintaining system integrity.

Conclusion

Stainless steel fittings offer many advantages critical to the success of numerous industrial applications due to their exceptional corrosion resistance, durability, and ability to handle high-pressure and high-temperature environments.

These fittings ensure operational efficiency and longevity.

Furthermore, the material’s hygienic properties make it ideal for use in sectors such as food processing, healthcare, and water management, where cleanliness and safety are most important.

Contact Wardtec for Your Stainless Steel Fittings Needs

Throughout this guide, we have detailed the types, applications, and installation and maintenance practices for stainless steel fittings, particularly in systems like water cylinders and heat pumps.

As you consider the best stainless steel fittings for your next project, Wardtec is here to provide high-quality options tailored to your needs and can further advise you on the best-suited products.

Our fittings, made predominantly from 316 grade and Duplex stainless steel, offer enhanced performance in harsh environments, aligning with our commitment to quality and excellence.

Contact Wardtec today to discuss how our stainless steel fittings can improve your project’s performance and reliability. Partner with us to ensure your installations achieve functional excellence and cost-effectiveness.

The post The Complete Guide to Stainless Steel Fittings appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

Up until around 40 years ago, UK central heating and hot water supply usually consisted of a copper hot water cylinder that was heated by a gas or oil-fired boiler. An alternative method was to heat the water in the cylinder by way of an immersion-type electric heater.

These ‘vented’ cylinders were open to the atmosphere. The water was gravity fed into the base of the cylinder from a cold-water storage tank, which was typically housed in the loft space. This arrangement provided the necessary pressure to push the cold water into the bottom of the cylinder, which in turn pushed the hot water out of the top of the cylinder to the various hot water taps around the house.

In a vented system, the cylinder is considered low pressure. The pressure available at the hot tap is directly related to how high the cold-water tank is positioned above the cylinder. Vented designs are a naturally ‘safe’ system. They allow the water to expand and boil if a thermostat fails to control the max temperature. This would otherwise cause a build-up of steam and pose a risk of the system exploding if it could not be vented.

Vented systems have two main drawbacks:

1. It is often difficult to get good flow and pressure from the hot taps.
2. Installations can be difficult to achieve if there is insufficient space for the cold water ‘header’ tank; the tank’s location can also make maintenance awkward.

In answer to these issues, the unvented mains pressure system was developed in the 1980s. It allowed the incoming cold water to feed directly off the mains and in turn push the hot water out at the same rate. This greatly increased the pressure of hot water taps and enabled high-powered thermostatic showers to run much more effectively.

Another key benefit was that the boiler and the cylinder could now be installed side by side on a ground floor, negating the need for a cold feed header tank in the loft.

By their nature, the operating pressure of an unvented system is far greater than a vented system, and as such, the cylinder is subject to far greater forces. This means the cylinders used for unvented systems have to be of a stronger design with additional safety features to prevent pressures becoming dangerously high within the sealed tank.

Copper vs Stainless Steel

While copper has many excellent properties that make it ideal for use in plumbing and heating, including its ductility, corrosion resistance, and malleability, it does not possess great tensile strength. This means a thicker gauge material is required when manufacturing copper cylinders for use in unvented systems – and this of course increases production and retail costs.

Stainless steel presented a natural, more affordable option than copper as by comparison it has very high tensile strength and is considerably more cost-effective as it can be used in a thinner gauge.

The result has been a typical split where copper is used for vented cylinders and stainless steel is used for unvented mains pressure systems, although cylinder manufacturers are now producing vented cylinders in stainless steel.

To meet our customers’ broad range of requirements, Wardtec manufactures and supplies specialist water fittings for both stainless-steel and copper hot water cylinders in very short lead times. In fact, we’re the UK’s only copper cylinder fittings manufacturer. All our fittings are produced using the latest CNC technology and in accordance with the relevant BS & ISO standards.

When it comes to choosing a hot water storage cylinder, however, there are a number of considerations that set copper and stainless-steel apart. Knowing these will help you decide which material is best suited for your application. Let’s look at them now:

Both copper and stainless-steel hot water cylinders have their benefits; the choice of material will ultimately be down to environmental factors, customer requirements and system design.

Whichever material you choose to use, however, the importance of using appropriate, high-quality fixtures and fittings is paramount. A hot water cylinder represents a substantial investment for your customer; why compromise its lifespan, the system’s integrity, and yours with poor quality fittings? 

Wardtec specialises in manufacturing and supplying superior fixtures and fittings for the water storage market. With over 40 years partnering with the very best in the industry, our BS & ISO standard copper and stainless-steel hot water cylinder fittings are available as standard or custom orders on tight turnarounds. Our components provide easy-to-use connections between pipes and storage vessels that inspire confidence in your installation, whether you’re using a copper or stainless-steel cylinder.

Find out more about our specialist hot water cylinder products here.  

The post Stainless steel vs copper for domestic hot water cylinder design and production – which material is most suited for which purpose and why? appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

This shift will significantly impact the hot water cylinder fittings market. 

With the growing use of solar and ground source heat pumps in water heating systems, there’ll be a higher need for specialised fittings. The change in regulations will increase the demand for cylinder fittings that work with these electric and renewable heating systems. 

Due to the nature of how water will be heated and stored in the future, hot water cylinders will become inherently more complex. Over the coming years, manufacturers are gearing up to create more advanced water cylinders with added features like multiple connection points and advanced valves.

From regulatory compliance to collaborative partnership, we’ll guide you through all the factors to consider when choosing a future-proof cylinder fittings supplier.

With over 40 years’ experience in the market, we understand the unique demands of hot water cylinder and heat pump manufacturing. 

As the leading cylinder fittings manufacturer, we specialise in delivering quality fittings designed to elevate your hot water cylinder production capabilities. Whether you require precision fittings for hot water systems or components for energy-efficient heat pumps, Wardtec is the strategic ally for manufacturers seeking excellence in every fitting.  

Read on to find out more about what to look for when searching for a hot water cylinder fittings supplier. 

Factors to consider when choosing a hot water cylinder fitting supplier

Partner with a specialist:

Partnering with a jack-of-all-trades supplier may be convenient for sourcing some components, but it can result in a lack of specialised knowledge, leading to subpar hot water fitting recommendations. 

Specialist suppliers like Wardtec have in-depth knowledge and expertise in hot water systems. We understand the intricacies of different types of cylinders, so you get the most suitable and efficient fitting solution for your specific requirements.  

At Wardtec, our bespoke engineering service is where precision meets collaboration. We’ve specialised in designing and manufacturing fittings for the water management industry for over 40 years. 

Work together with our experts to design and manufacture fittings that align precisely with your requirements.

Assess the supplier’s dedication to quality:

Factors to consider when evaluating a cylinder fitting supplier’s quality process include but are not limited to:

Testing and quality control: Enquire about the supplier’s quality control procedures and testing protocols. A reputable supplier will conduct rigorous testing on their products to identify and rectify any defects before shipment.

• Compliance with standards: Verify that the fittings comply with industry standards, such as BS & ISO standards. This ensures your manufactured hot water cylinders will meet regulatory requirements.

• Supplier’s Quality Management System (QMS): Assess whether the supplier has a well-documented and implemented Quality Management System (QMS) in place. ISO 9001 certification is a good indicator of a robust QMS.

• Traceability: Evaluate the supplier’s ability to trace raw materials and components back to their source. Traceability ensures accountability and helps identify and rectify issues quickly.

• Warranty and After-Sales Support: Check the warranty offered by the supplier. A longer warranty period often indicates confidence in the product’s quality. Additionally, enquire about the availability of after-sales support for addressing any issues that may arise.

By thoroughly examining these specific aspects of quality, you can make a more informed decision when selecting a hot water cylinder fittings supplier for your manufacturing business.

Wardtec proudly holds the title of the UK’s only manufacturer of non-ferrous fittings for hot water cylinders. 

The quality of our fittings has been tested in the most extreme conditions. 

For example, some of our clients have purchased our high-specification machined copper and copper alloy fittings for water connection in sand and brown field sites, where the risk of potential water contamination requires a very high-quality product.

Our ISO 9001 certificate is a testament to our unwavering dedication to quality control and production traceability. In our Redditch-based factory, every one of our fittings is assigned a product card and carefully inspected in accordance with ISO 9001 Key Performance Indicators. 

Furthermore, we invest in cutting-edge quality control methods, like our Coordinate Measurement Machines, to add even more accuracy to our fittings. 

Long-term collaborative partnership:

Find a supplier that values collaboration and customer satisfaction over profits.

A supplier willing to work closely with manufacturers can provide better insights, support, and customised solutions, forging a mutually beneficial partnership.

A long-term collaboration with a reliable hot water cylinder fittings supplier is particularly crucial in the face of upcoming legislative changes, such as the ban on new gas boiler installations after 2025. 

In navigating these shifting regulations, switching to a trusted cylinder fittings supplier will smooth the transition into manufacturing newer, more efficient heating solutions. 

At Wardtec, the majority of our clients are lifelong partners, and some have worked with us for over 30 years. 

If you’re a manufacturer in the water management industry and would like to work with Wardtec, get in touch. 

The post How to Find A Good Hot Water Cylinder Fittings Supplier appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

Dezincification poses significant problems for manufacturers of brass water fittings and end users alike. So, what exactly is it and what can be done to lessen its effects?  

What is dezincification?

Dezincification is a process that causes zinc alloys, such as brass, to break down in water over time. Brass is composed of around two-thirds copper and one-third zinc, along with traces of other alloying elements, such as tin, iron, and manganese.

During dezincification, zinc is unintentionally removed from the brass alloy through a corrosive reaction to water or moisture.

After a period operating in wet conditions, enough zinc can leach from the brass alloy that it compromises a brass component’s integrity, leaving a weakened honeycomb-like structure that’s unfit for purpose.

Does dezincification cause brass to rust?

Although it is not rust as we traditionally understand it (only iron can rust), dezincification has a similar corrosive effect on brass alloy components, compromising their internal structure and diminishing strength.

It can be hard to spot dezincified brass – unlike rust with its notable colour and texture. Dezincified brass components often remain unchanged on the outside, aside from minor discoloration, and will usually retain their original shape and dimensions.

But the increased porosity of the brass alloy and dramatic reduction in mechanical strength of the component will often result in catastrophic failure.

Why does dezincification cause brass corrosion?

This reactivity of brass in water will surprise many people; brass fittings are a commonplace favourite in the water industry, so why use them if dezincification is an issue?

The truth is that, although dezincification is a serious consideration when choosing brass water fittings, certain environmental factors must be at play for it to occur. These include:

• Slightly acidic water in the system
• Slightly alkaline water in the system
• Low aeration of the water
• Higher water temperatures
• The effects of Noble metals and the Galvanic Series

A good example of this is within hot water cylinders, where brass fittings can be subject to varying water conditions and temperatures. For this reason, brass fittings used in the construction of hot water cylinders must be carefully selected to minimise the risk of dezincification of vital components.

The Galvanic Series and Galvanic corrosion (the science bit)

The Galvanic Series is an article in its own right, but it’s worth summarising its effects here as it offers some insight into how dezincification occurs and why it causes brass water fittings to corrode.

Galvanic corrosion happens when two dissimilar metals are joined and immersed in an electrolyte; in this case, the two dissimilar metals are copper and zinc (in the form of brass), and the electrolyte is water. This Galvanic reaction is the same principle that makes batteries, or corrosion cells, work.

Within a corrosion cell there needs to be an anode, a cathode, a metallic path, and an electrolyte. The more noble metal acts as the cathode and the less noble acts as the anode, with the anode corroding in preference to the cathode.

Copper is not particularly high on the noble scale – in fact, it’s pretty much in the middle. Zinc, however, is almost the least noble metal, so the gap between copper and zinc is significant. When a brass alloy component is subjected to an electrolyte and forms a metallic path, the zinc element becomes the anode and corrodes in preference to the copper cathode.

The Galvanic reaction is accelerated if the cathode is larger than the anode. This compounds the issue of dezincification in brass hot water cylinder components as the large copper cylinder, which acts as the cathode, is significantly bigger than the small brass fittings containing the zinc, which are the anodes.

Add to this the elevated water temperature within the cylinder and you’ve created the perfect conditions for dezincification of brass fittings.

Why does the water industry use brass fittings if dezincification causes them to corrode?

Despite the issues associated with dezincification, there are lots of good reasons to use brass in the manufacture of water fittings. Brass has:

• One of the best machining properties of all metals
• Great formability for stampings
• Favourable cost per application ratio
• A comparatively easy alloy production process

The key to the successful service application of brass is for the component designer to fully understand the final application of the fittings.

Eliminating the effects of dezincification

To eliminate the effects of dezincification on specialist brass water fittings, the alloying elements of the brass can be modified during its production. This is a relatively low-cost process that greatly improves the brass’ resistance to dezincification and increases the components’ longevity when used in warm, wet conditions such as hot water tanks.  

The resultant alloy is called dezincification brass. It’s often referred to as CZ132, DZR brass, or CW602N.

There are two ways to produce DZR brass:

1. Use a zinc content of >15%. This automatically prevents dezincification, however, the lower zinc content may make the resulting alloy unsuitable for the intended component or manufacturing requirements.
2. If a higher zinc content (typically 35%) is required to preserve the brass’ characteristics, other alloying elements can be added in very small quantities (typically 0.2-2%) to prevent dezincification. These elements are often termed dezincification inhibitors, and include arsenic, nickel, tin, phosphorus, and aluminium.

Another important factor in preventing dezincification of brass fittings is the chosen method of part manufacture. If a forging process, such as hot stamping, is used or another thermal process, such as annealing, the component’s resistance to dezincification is further improved.

However, careful consideration must also be given to what’s right for the component design, its application, and suitable machining processes for producing the part.

There are many factors to consider in the production of brass alloys, but this is a broad overview of the dezincification process and the principles for producing DZR brass fittings for use in the water industry.   

In conclusion, if the component designer understands the application and specifies the correct brass alloy, the resulting brass fittings should have a long and trouble-free service life.

Got any questions about specialist water fittings? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

The post What is dezincification of brass and how does brass corrosion affect specialist water fittings? appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

What does your role as General Manager at Wardtec encompass?

My role at Wardtec is a new one, created with the acquisition of the business. I oversee the day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth order processing, maintaining health and safety standards, and building a strong partnership between Wardtec, Lawton Tubes and their customers. As a small family business, Wardtec has operated differently, so part of my role involves adapting to this change and supporting the staff through the transition.

What’s your background, and how does it relate to your current role?

I come from a background in facilities management, where I gained a solid technical understanding and honed skills in people and project management. Many aspects of my previous role transfers to my current position, which I continue to discover every day! Organising people, managing operations, dealing with clients, and running a business are all familiar territories to me, so I’m happy to bring those qualities to the Wardtec team.

What do you enjoy most about your role at Wardtec?

I’m a creative person who thrives on finding practical solutions. I enjoy being behind the scenes and figuring out how things work, so growing to understand the dynamics of this business under the Lawton Tubes umbrella, and planning for its future is exciting. Being the key liaison between the two businesses and implementing processes to support growth is very fulfilling, and I strive to be a person within the team who people can turn to with questions, and for decision-making.

How has the relationship between Lawton Tubes and Wardtec developed?

Initially, the transition was a significant change in mindset as both businesses were run differently. Working alongside Anthony Ward, Wardtec’s MD, we had to navigate and nurture this change, allowing it to happen naturally. Now, with stability behind us, we’re encouraging Wardtec to explore new markets, fuelled by Lawton Tubes’ support. The positive relationship has provided opportunities for growth and increased purchasing power, benefiting both companies. It is my goal to continue nurturing Wardtec’s evolving business, and its fantastic employees within the Lawton Tubes community.

Is there anything you can share about markets Wardtec is looking to enter?

The country’s move towards net-zero means that the stored hot water and cylinder storage market will grow and present opportunities for Wardtec. We’re also exploring new markets with products that complement our existing portfolio, aiming to expand our customer base and tap into Lawton Tubes’ sectors – without giving too much away!

What kind of things do you enjoy outside of work?

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and doing DIY projects. I’m currently renovating another house which is a huge time commitment. I also enjoy the outdoors: walking, camping and being in the mountains.

What does the future have in store for Wardtec under Lawton Tubes?

This partnership is a long-term investment, and we’re 100% committed to building on Wardtec’s success. We care deeply about the legacy of the Ward family and aim to carry Wardtec into a brighter, more dominant future. Our focus is on accelerating growth, exploring new markets, and ensuring the well-being of the staff. Anthony Ward’s legacy of integrity is important to us, and we want to make Wardtec a part of our family for years to come.

Find out more about Wardtec’s specialist engineering offering to the water management industry here.

The post Meet Wardtec’s General Manager, Patrick Lawton appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

Wardtec is a family business established by Anthony Ward’s father back in 1982, and now expertly guided by Anthony himself as the Managing Director. In this Q&A, get to know more about the challenges and successes that have shaped Anthony and the business over the years.

What’s your background within the industry?

I trained as a Vehicle Design Engineer with what’s now JLR. They sponsored me through my apprenticeship and my design degree. I could have carried on with a very nice career designing cars, being a cog in the wheel. But I wanted to plough my own furrow. That’s when I decided to join my father as an engineer at Wardtec.

What’s the draw of engineering for you?

It’s in the blood. In terms of pure engineering, I love it – as a job and a hobby. I enjoy coming up with an idea and being able to prove it and have somebody want to buy it. It’s a nice feeling.

What do you enjoy about your role?

Enjoyment of running a business is when you can be successful at it. It’s not always fun, but when it’s going right, it’s a fantastic thing to be resourceful to the point where you can grow and develop something that works. I think most people in business would tell you that’s the little buzz you get.

I enjoy that Wardtec has a good reputation. I enjoy the fact we’re profitable because it means we’re getting something right. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter how much money you make if what you put out is poor quality. I don’t differentiate between who I am as a person and who I am as a business owner. If people thought what we produced was poor quality, that would just be the worst thing for me. It’s got to be right. If it’s not 100% right, it’s not going out the door.

What skills do you bring to the role?

Integrity and a safe pair of hands. When we say we’ll deliver a product on a certain day, we do everything to make sure it’s 100% right and delivered to the agreed terms. I’m a detail merchant, and I’m thorough. But you can’t apologise for that when you’re a manufacturing engineering company. I’m also calm and collected. I don’t run around with my head on fire when it’s all going wrong.

What are your top tips for growing a successful business?

Sometimes, it’s enough to just think, ‘What’s today got in store?’ You don’t always need to overthink it. Some of your growth will take a random organic path. Sometimes, your best plan comes from something not working and taking a different route to get where you want to be. And before you know it, you’re importing, exporting and doing everything else!

There’s no magic or mystery to it. It’s just about hard work, not giving in, and always endeavouring to make everything you do the best it can be and the best experience for the customer. Make it easy for people to work with you – that’s how you get repeat business.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Covid was the biggest challenge in recent times. I’ve probably learned more about business in the last three or four years than I’ve learned in the previous 20 because of covid. It was a reminder that you have to think on your feet and change the plan very quickly if you need to.

The 2008 financial crisis was another challenge when our sales suddenly dropped 20% overnight. That’s when we got into the stainless steel fittings market and global procurement. Now, 80% of what we sell is stainless steel fittings. It’s taken the business in a new radical direction, which was a gamble, but I’m not sure we’d still have a business if we’d not taken that decision.

In the most bizarre way, challenges like these energise you. It almost feels a bit like starting a business again from the beginning, so you’ve got that renewed energy of survival.

What lessons have you learned?

As a manager, you have to be the person that pulls everyone together. To galvanise them into getting the best solution. You’ve got to be calm in your approach, even if something’s gone really wrong, because ultimately the buck stops with you; you have to be there to guide the fix.

In the early days, I tried to do it all myself. But as you get more experienced, you realise it’s about getting your people within the organisation to work as a whole, and if you can get that happening, by and large, you do okay.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

Motorsport is a bit of a passion for me. If it’s got wheels on it, then I’m interested. I also love snowboarding and mountain biking – plus I’m a really keen gardener!

What plans do you have for Wardtec in the future?

Last year, I sold the business. To me, that’s the ultimate endorsement, that somebody would want to buy your company. We’re now solely owned by Lawton Tubes. It’s a good fit. Lawton Tubes is a big family company. They share the same values and approach to investment and growth, and they have the professionalism to know you need people outside your family to run an organisation like that. We were on strong foundations before. But I think we’re on even stronger foundations now.

Find out more about Wardtec here.

The post Meet Wardtec’s MD, Anthony Ward appeared first on Lawton Tubes.

My father was a very clever design engineer with a broad background including aeronautical design, agricultural machinery, and motorcycle manufacture. He was unfortunate to get made redundant in the recession of the early 80s. There weren’t the safeguards back then that a lot of people have now when they lose their job; his back was against the wall.

In 1982, he took the brave decision to start up a business rather than become employed again, in one of the worst economic times the country has ever seen!

Wardtec didn’t start with all the razzmatazz some companies have when they launch. It started off tiny, with a husband and wife working tirelessly together in the back of the garage, taking on any bits of assembly work that needed doing.

When I think back, I don’t know how they managed to be so resilient. But my father and mother both had fantastic work ethics. They were very together, and their resilience showed through.

Onwards and upwards

It was a steady path upwards, but it certainly wasn’t an overnight success. The business went from doing small assembly work to renting a corner of a factory in the middle of Birmingham. I remember helping my dad there, building old machines up into something to try and make them do the job. This was before CNC and CAD/CAM software – it really was a task!

I trained as a vehicle design engineer – engineering and design is my passion; it’s in my blood. I had a good career, I worked hard, and I enjoyed what I did, but after I finished all my training, I got the desire to plough my own furrow and decided to join Dad. Wardtec was still a very fledgeling company at the time and I wanted to take a chance, to help him make something of it. It ended up being the right choice.

My father always had this constant push forward – and he had a lot of charisma. He was well respected in the industry that he’d worked in. His reputation as a person preceded him, so right from the beginning, people trusted in him and his business, which was a big factor in its success. If you gave my dad an order, he’d move hell and highwater to deliver it – an ethos that’s stayed with the company.

He was also open to taking a risk. When the time came, in 1989, he chose to borrow the money to buy a plot of land and build his own factory rather than rent one. Since then, we’ve extended the original building three times, the last one incorporated a full suite of offices. It’s about investing in yourself – and if you’re willing to do that, other people take what you’re doing seriously.

Next generation

One of my sisters had also joined the company before I did. We were growing steadily, including the acquisition of one of our competitors along the way. Unfortunately, not long after this acquisition, my father died from an unexpected and aggressive illness. Suddenly both my sister and I became Directors of the company, with my sister looking after the finance and administration while my focus was on the engineering and manufacturing side.

Wardtec is a manufacturing company, with engineering at its core. Engineering is what I know, and I’ve always run the company from that perspective. Doing the right job, correctly, and delivering it on time to the terms and conditions that have been agreed.

After a lot of hard work, we’ve found our niche making specialist fittings for the specialist water storage market. That’s what we’re known for, and we’ve built a very good reputation in that industry. There’s no magic or mystery to it. Customers want integrity and a safe pair of hands. We aim to make it as easy as possible for the customer, always endeavouring to make products the best they can be, so our customers come back for more.

Some of our customers have been with us for decades. When you have customers and staff who’ve been with you for over 10 years, that’s two things you know you’re doing right. But the challenges we’ve faced along the way have made sure we don’t get stuck in a comfort zone.

Agility in adversity

The financial crisis in 2008 energised the business – almost like starting again. It was the catalyst that got Wardtec into the stainless-steel fittings market, which was a real gamechanger for us. Now, 80% of the fittings we supply are stainless-steel. If we hadn’t moved into that market, it could have been a very different story for Wardtec.

Following on from that, I decided to take the business in a radical new direction. You have to operate on a bigger stage these days, and you’ve got to be competitive. We couldn’t have done that if we’d stayed as a pure manufacturer. So, we embraced the Far East manufacturing global import and export markets and dovetailed it with our in-house manufacturing. It hasn’t been easy – no business is ever easy, but it was the right decision and it’s proved to be a great success.

Covid was another reminder you need to be able to think on your feet in this industry. Taking apart the financial working of the business meant we came up with a plan to ride it out without significant impact – and then things went from one extreme to the other. Business was off the charts, and we had to turn everything back on at 150%!

Specialist projects

Most of what we produce are essential items. No matter what’s going on in the world, people still want hot water and central heating. Occasionally, we supply components to a customer who recognises we’re an engineering company with the ability to take an idea from a conversation right through to a finished product.

It’s led us onto some unusual projects, like tooling, and other weird and wonderful things for motorsport companies, which is a passion of mine. It’s interesting working on specialist projects, because it pushes us forward and everybody within the business learns something. It energises people into thinking about stuff differently and using more CAD/CAM software than we normally would. That renewed energy then feeds back into the high-quality products we produce for our core OE manufacturing customers.

Meeting demand

Wardtec has all the advantages of a small company, which is fast reaction time and the ability to be involved on a very one-to-one basis. But we also have the professionalism of a large entity. We really started to embrace the CNC culture 20 years ago, and we’ve now got latest generation multi-spindle multi-axis gantry loaded systems, and VMCs backed up by full CAD/CAM systems. So, we’ve evolved with the industry. The product types we produce now just would not be possible without CNC technology.

Whilst manufacturing is probably only 20% of what we do, the other 80% is procured items globally. Our Far East supply partners also embrace the latest high-tech CNC technology. Knowing how to make something from a technical perspective means we know how to purchase it correctly and build relationships with our partners on a technical level.

Wardtec joins Lawton Tubes

Lawton Tubes has been a Wardtec supplier since the year dot. The two companies have always had a good rapport and we know each other well. They’re a family company too – and Lawton’s approach to investment and growth is the same as ours. We share the same values and quality-focus. When you’re a manufacturing engineering company, it’s all about the details and getting everything 100% right. If it’s not right, it’s not going out the door. That’s important.

It wasn’t a difficult decision to join the Lawton Tubes family, because it’s a good fit. Although we started out doing copper products, 80% of what we now do is now stainless steel. You might be thinking that’s in conflict with Lawton as a copper tube supplier, but in fact, while many specialist fittings we make aren’t produced in copper, they do link closely through the industry sectors we jointly supply.

What it now means for our customers is access to an even broader range of high-quality products and specialist fittings with the potential to source their whole inventory from a single supplier, which has huge cost-and time-saving benefits.

I’m very passionate about Wardtec and I want it to succeed and be profitable long into the future. Lawton Tubes have a policy of growth and they’re people-focused, which rang all the right bells for me. We’re all very different personalities, but we’re on the same page. Wardtec was on strong foundations before, but now with Lawton Tubes, those foundations are even stronger.

Find out more about Wardtec here.

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