Dès le début, Ian Antrobus et deux autres réalisateurs, Alan Blackwell et Alan Howell, se sont réunis pour former Northwest Roller Services Ltd dans une petite usine délabrée de Warrington Cheshire. Avec une petite équipe d'employés, la production de rouleaux a commencé en utilisant un autoclave, deux tours et un broyeur.

It became obvious at this point with the business growing year on year and realising its potential a larger factory was needed. Two acres of land was purchased in Runcorn Cheshire and the development of the new North West Rollers factory began.

C'était l'année où nous avons commencé la production du manchon en fibre de verre. North West Roller était désormais en mesure de produire des manchons coniques et parallèles et des systèmes de manchons, ouvrant ainsi une large base de clients dans le monde entier. La production Easysleeve était opérationnelle.

With more space created in the laser department along came the addition of two modern CO2 laser engraving machines to add to the original one we began with, we was now capable of producing rollers to a much higher definition keeping up with the demands of the flexographic print industry

Thirty plus years down the line and with North West Rollers Services Ltd now being the leading UK  manufacturer for the  Flexographic, Gravure and Lamination industries and employing thirty staff, Managing Director Ian Antrobus realised he had achieved his ambitions and decided to retire to a more relaxing quieter life in the sun.

A year has passed since the management buyout and business is going from strength to strength, with an increased turnover rate and more work coming on the horizon we decide to improve the work flow on the shop floor and install our third overhead crane. With a lift capability of 2 Tonne and a span of 20 meters it will improve safety and speed up the production process.

In February, North West Rollers took the bold move to purchase the assets of A&A Graphics, an established decorative wallpaper separation company. This purchase not only brought across two experienced separation artists, it also enabled us to take on board the manager of A&A as our decorative consultant to secure existing customers and all the digital files they produced.