Pepperl celebrates

THE 40th anniversary ope day at Pepperl and Fuchs (l-r) Paul Thompson (chief engineer), Mayor of Oldham Cllr John Hudson, Stefan Albrecht (P+F’s northern european director)

AN Oldham company founded as the first overseas office of what has become a global business is celebrating 40 years in the borough.

Pepperl and Fuchs GB is a leading developer and manufacturer of electronic sensors and components for the worldwide automation market.

Established 60 years ago in Germany, the company employs 5,400 people and has manufacturing bases across the world.

The company’s Oldham site employs 170 people in recently renovated workshops and offices in Ripponden Road. The factory oversees the world’s largest development and supply of the firm’s factory automation range.

Cyril Brandford, from Norden, who retired in 1995, was Pepperl and Fuchs’ first employee in 1973, joining from Royton electronics business A M Lock and Co Ltd., and he went on to become chairman of the UK business.

He took guests on a short tour of the company’s formation and growth in Oldham.

Worldwide the company is set to achieve sales of around half a billion Euros.