The UK’s Trusted Custom Rubber Manufacturer

Clwyd Compounders Ltd, a second-generation family business, was founded in 1979. With the founder’s son, Ian Haywood as Sales Director, the business is at the cutting edge of rubber compound manufacturing and development. The business operates from a purpose-built compound production and development facility. With a comprehensive rubber laboratory and multiple mixing lines, Clwyd Compounders is at the pinnacle of rubber compounding globally.

Clwyd Compounders Ltd was established by John Haywood (PhD, Materials Technology) and Sarah Haywood (MSc, Analytical Chemistry), and based in Wrexham, North Wales – an area with a long tradition of manufacturing, situated centrally for easy access to UK markets. As technologists, they appreciated the potential for continuous development of rubber compounds, both to meet existing needs with more cost-effective materials, and to expand the range of conditions in which rubber compounds could be used.

During the 1980’s, business capacity and supplier relationships were developed, and the Company established a particularly strong position in the fluoroelastomer market.

Quality accreditation was first achieved in 1987 to the BS5750 standard, and this was followed by a continuous improvement programme centred on the reduction of inter-batch variability of compounds. Recent years have seen further accreditations and standards maintained to ISO 9001: 2015, ISO14001: 2015 an ISO45001.

The 1990’s, saw continued expansion in the business through the introduction of a 2nd mixer line with automatic stripping and slabbing facilities; and a priority on business system improvements, including computer-controlled weighing and scheduling throughout the factory.

In 2000, the technical department and laboratory facilities were expanded substantially, with major investment in analytical equipment (TGA, and FTIR) for rubber compound identification, and colour matching equipment. A separate unit has also been constructed to allow production of silicones including electrically conductive silicone, low temperature silicon, fluorosilicones and perfluoroelastomers under clean room conditions.

In 2011, the Board of Directors was strengthened by the appointment of Richard Thomas as Managing Director. This enabled the business to start planning for the transition to the next generation. It became clear that a purpose-built facility would be required, and the development plans came to fruition in 2018 when the business relocated to its new purpose-built facility on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. This move expanded the factory capacity by 40% and the laboratory by 60%, enabling Clwyd Compounders to take on increased development work, doubling its production capacity as a rubber compound manufacturer.

In 2017, David O’Hare joined as Commercial Director, with a strong background in international business development and management, he was instrumental in driving through the implementation of a new fully integrated computer system, which utilises the latest software to bring efficiencies to the business. He was formally appointed Managing Director in 2020 following the retirement of Richard Thomas.