New Product Venture
John and Julie Lightfoot, the formidable father and daughter team who run Solar Solve Marine, producer of the world’s brand leading SOLASOLV anti glare roller screen products for the marine industry have collected together a group of experts in the field of window wipers to create a new company, Wiper Solve Marine.
Following exactly the same principles that have made Solar Solve Marine one of the most successful, multi-award winning marine equipment manufacturers in the world today, John and Julie intend to ensure their new company is equally as successful and hopefully more so.
The philosophy and strategy will be the same. Put simply, customers are King and will get exactly what they want, exactly when they want it and exactly where they want it.
For most of the last 10 years John and Julie have been trying to find some other products that will compliment Solar Solve’s current range of anti glare roller screens and marine roller blinds.
Window wipers have been considered a few times before but not adopted due the lack of expertise within the company. However, as a result of a change in the market due to mergers, acquisitions and subsequent redundancies, skilled and knowledgeable people became available and the opportunity was taken to investigate window wipers once again.
Individuals were approached and a significant team of experts in the various fields of associated technology and wiper expertise was created. Proposals discussed, plans drawn up, legal and financial issues were all dealt with.
An approach was also made to One North East that resulted in a significant R&D grant being approved, and a lot of encouragement and support is being given by the UKTI team in Newcastle.
John Lightfoot, who is chairman of both companies commented, "These new products have been a long time coming and have also taken quite a long time to develop but we are all extremely confident that they will be very successful once the six month launch programme has run its course."
Julie Lightfoot, MD of both companies added, "This will be another great opportunity for us to show the marine world what we are capable of achieving from our facility here in the Port of Tyne with the continued support of the local agencies who are significant contributors to our success."
ABOVE: Solar Solve Marine’s Chairman, John Lightfoot and Managing Director Julie Lightfoot receive the North East Award for Excellence in the Marine Industry at the northern region Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMAREST) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) annual dinner and dance on Friday 24th March 2006 at the Civic Centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
David Cobb CBE, President of IMAREST, and Royden Whyte, Chairman of the North East Coast Joint Branch presented the award which was to pay tribute to a company whose performance has been outstanding in the marine industry.
More about Wiper Solve Marine
Wiper Solve Marine specialises in the design, development and manufacture of Straight Line and Pantograph wiper systems and CANbus control systems for ships.
Our workforce brings together a combined experience of more than 60 years in marine wiper systems and has used this knowledge to create a unique range of products with the shortest of lead times and at very competitive prices.
Wiper Solve Marine is a joint venture 48% owned by the Chairman and Managing Director of Solar Solve Marine.
Combining new research with 60 years of combined experience in the design, development and manufacture of wiper systems together with 22 years of successful marketing and manufacture of a brand leading product for the marine industry, we are confident that the new range of WIPASOLV and CONTROLASOLV high performance products will exceed customer needs.
Our combined workforce includes 100 years of engineering experience and well over 100 years of production experience, This has enabled us to create a super efficient manufacturing and spare parts supply facility located within the Port of Tyne, South Shields, UK.
We are able to manufacture, dispatch and deliver orders to almost any destination worldwide
in record time!
FIND OUT MORE!
To find out more visit the Wiper Solve Marine website at www.wipasolv.com
blinds for ships