We’ve built a brand-new concrete access ramp at our headquarters and manufacturing facility in Govan, Glasgow.
This ramp will help us efficiently remove waste from our dust extraction system, boosting our recycling processes and overall efficiency. We’re proud to make this improvement and continue our commitment to sustainability.
Well done to all the team involved!
Read our previous post Factory Update | Safety Fence Installation
St Mirren Football Club has released its highly anticipated 2024/25 home kit. It features a brand new, first-time shirt sponsor: Consilium Contracting Services Ltd.
Graham Mercer, Rearo Managing Director and long-term St Mirren Football Club season ticket holder and supporter said,
That’s really exciting news. Knowing Paul McGrath and the team at Consilium, we know this will be an absolute dream come true for them. The kit looks great, and it’s wonderful to see a Paisley-born, Paisley-based, Paisley family company sponsor the club… at a very exciting time for the club too.
Graham Mercer
The official announcement by St Mirren Football Club stated that they are honoured to announce Consilium as St Mirren’s new official shirt sponsor to continue their legacy together. According to the statement, the connection between the family company, Consilium and St Mirren began with a young boy growing up in Glenburn alongside his McGrath parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. The sponsorship is a result of a long-lasting relationship.
“The history of the club, the origin town of Paisley and the dedication of many generations will be remembered when you wear the 2024/25 home kit.
As we gear up for European football for the first time since 1987, this will be a kit that is long remembered as it represents us on the continent.
We cannot wait to form history together and have Consilium as St Mirren’s official shirt sponsor for the home kit 2024/25 and for the away kit 2024/25″. St Mirren Football Club.
The new kit is available online. The team at Consilium prepared a video to mark the occasion.
From one family-run business to another, the team at Rearo would like to say well done to Consilium Contracting Services Ltd. Best of luck to St Mirren Football Club in the coming season, too!
We really hope you enjoy the video as much as we did, CMON YOU SAINTS!
Today, in an additional step towards enhancing our safety standards, Daniel Danso installed a new safety fence at our Glasgow-based manufacturing facility. This fence, located beside the PUR Panel Press Line and the Vacuum Lifter line, protects passersby from coming too close to moving panels as they are transferred on the Vacuum Lifter.
The new safety fence was constructed using leftover fencing material from the state-of-the-art PVA Bonding Line installed last year.
It is a testament to Daniel’s resourcefulness, commitment to sustainability, and health and safety improvements that the leftover material was put to good use to protect our staff and customers.
Here’s some pictures of Daniel installing the fence this morning, plus an old photo of Daniel back on the original PUR line almost 20 years ago!
Thanks, Daniel!
Interested in Rearo’s improvements? Read about Dariusz & “Big Tams” project!
The Backyard Project
Logan Bryans successfully passed his driving test today! 🚗
Logan Bryans works in the Warehouse in Rearo, Glasgow. He completed his 1 year Apprenticeship in January and opted into the company’s apprentice driving lesson scheme.
Rearo’s driving lesson scheme includes 15 x 90-minute lessons arranged and paid for by Rearo. Lessons are held within working hours to ensure apprentices can attend without sacrificing personal time. Rearo also funds the Theory Test and Driving Test.
Rearo firmly believes that learning to drive builds confidence and a sense of independence.
Jamie Campbell, Operations Manager said:
“It makes me so proud when you see these young members of staff begin their journey on the road. It’s no mean feat to pass your theory and practical tests these days and it requires so much hard work.
This continues to work as an incentive to all apprentices when they join the business.
Great to see the hard work paying off and it’s even better when you see them arriving and leaving work in their own cars”.
Well done, Logan; we hope you enjoy the roads!
Site Audit at Egger Timberpak, Bellshill
At Rearo, it is essential to build strong relationships with our suppliers and customers. We also believe it is important understand every stage of the process our materials undergo, not just during manufacturing but at every stage of their life cycle.
Therefore, Graham Mercer and Louise Spokes undertook a site audit at EGGER Group TIMBERPAK LIMITED, Bellshill.
Timberpak, a recycling and reprocessing company, is a champion of the sustainable use of waste wood. It plays a vital role in our operations as Rearo waste is processed at their facility in Bellshill. From there, it is sent to Egger’s main factory in Hexham, where more of the Rearo team will be visiting in the next few weeks. At Hexham, the processed wood waste is transformed back into Melamine-Faced Chipboard, completing a full circulatory story.
Visits to sites like these are crucial in our ongoing commitment to quality and improvement.
Thank you to Connor Paterson, UK Sales Manager, for the facility tour, goody bags, and the opportunity to learn about the history of Egger, Timberpak, and the importance of a sustainable closed loop recycling process.
Supplier site visit to Leitz Tooling UK Ltd, Bellshill
🌟 Gaining firsthand insights into our supplier operations 🔧
Last week, Rhys Todd, our CNC operator, and Jamie Campbell, Operations Manager, undertook a site visit to the Leitz Tooling UK Ltd service centre in Bellshill. The purpose of this visit was to gain a deeper understanding of our blade supplier’s operations and compare their performance with our other suppliers.
Leitz is a German-based saw blade manufacturer that supplies us with blades and tooling for machines in our manufacturing facility in Govan, Glasgow.
The trip helped us get more of an understanding of how the blades are serviced and sharpened. At the same time, the service centre tour allowed us to see the machines and technology involved, which is always helpful. While there, Rhys and Jamie found it very noticeable that they take great pride in what they do. The place was immaculate. It was also interesting to learn that they use the 5S management system for the housekeeping and organisational side of their process. We also use this system in the Rearo manufacturing plant.
Overall, the visit was highly beneficial. It reinforced our confidence in Leitz as a supplier and provided valuable insights into their meticulous processes and commitment to quality, which align with our own standards at .
The guys didn’t get any photos on the day, but here’s Jamie with one of our Leitz blades, back at Rearo HQ.
Ryan Hyslop passes test on first attempt
This week, Ryan Hyslop, one of our apprentices in the Glasgow factory, passed his driving test on his 1st attempt! Ryan said he’s grateful for the driving lesson scheme and is looking forward to car shopping this weekend!
Rearo’s driving lesson scheme includes 15 x 90-minute lessons arranged and paid for by Rearo. Lessons are held within working hours to ensure apprentices can attend without sacrificing personal time. Rearo also funds the Theory Test and Driving Test.
Congratulations Ryan, enjoy the roads!
Interested in going the Rearo team? Visit our recruitment page.
Why The Smallest Room In The House Is Now Big Business – Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Rearo’s Selkie range
The only time most of us give any deep or meaningful thought to our bathrooms, is when we are refitting them. Rarely will we consider how much the very nature of the bathroom has changed in our lifetimes, and those of our parents. Anyone brought up in the 1960s, or before, will remember the bathroom as a purely functional area. Some people from those eras may not even have had an indoor toilet and, for many of them, washing was done at a communal sink or ‘jaw box’.
As with many other aspects of life, the 1970s introduced Britain to the idea of interior design and, while bathrooms retained their functionality, this was within a much wider concept of individual taste and style.
The past 20 years, in particular, has seen a paradigm-shift in our understanding and appreciation of the bathroom, which has become a place of relaxation, in which people spend quality time and assert their own needs.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Rearo’s Selkie range
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Rearo’s Selkie range of bathroom wall panels, and the landmark has given us cause to pause and consider how the collection has changed in that time, in particular to how we research and select new patterns and designs to match public expectations, compared with 2004.
As well as being more intensive and detail-orientated, the process of developing a new range now requires us to consider social, environmental, and technological factors.
The modern bathroom must encompass fashions and trends in interior design, while also retaining some of the ‘greener’ principles developed over the past couple of decades.
A wider selection of materials is now available in different styles, adding architectural interest to the bathroom, taking it beyond functional necessity and into something visually striking.
Back in the early 2000s influences to bathroom design included technological marvels like iPods, Blu-ray, and Windows XP, alongside design trends that ranged from questionable to enduring. While lime green everything may have fallen out of favour, the shabby chic decor of distressed paint and vintage style found new life.
The era also embraced jacuzzi and spa baths, but concerns over maintenance and hygiene have shifted focus towards simpler, free-standing baths for a more hassle-free bathing experience.
Even global events like South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup influenced bathroom design trends, fostering a demand for local elements, such as woven baskets and indigenous wood, reflecting a surge in national pride.
Factoring in all of these elements and trends into the evolution of the Selkie range has required a meticulous process that combines market research, design exploration, and practical testing.
Selkie History
Named after the mythical Selkie, a mermaid-like creature, the range embarked on a path of innovation that has continued to define modern bathroom aesthetics.
In the early years, glossy, bold colours and sparkles dominated, reflecting the tastes of the time. However, as design preferences shifted over the years, so did Selkie.
Today, we see a preference for more industrial stone and slate styles, with matte finishes, highlighting the adaptability and responsiveness of Rearo to evolving trends.
Selkie Range Design Process
Market research forms the bedrock of our design process more than ever, drawing insights from various sources to ensure we stay abreast of evolving trends and consumer preferences.
Apart from supplier inputs and internal feedback, our team leverages external resources to enrich our understanding of design trends.
Attending trade shows like Interzum in Cologne provides firsthand exposure to the latest innovations and styles in furniture production and interior design. Additionally, commissioned reports from design consultants, such as Eva Hoernisch, offer valuable perspectives gleaned from prestigious events like Milan Design Week.
Over several months, our team embarks on a journey. It begins with sourcing materials and understanding market trends, and culminates in the creation of innovative and appealing products.
Research is key
Engaging with laminate suppliers over three or four months, the team explores the latest offerings and gathers insights from customer feedback and industry trends.
Suppliers present new developments, such as enhancements to textures and finishes, providing samples and swatch packs for evaluation. These samples serve as the building blocks for the creation of the new range.
Research is not limited to supplier interactions; it extends to understanding customer preferences and market demands. Branch managers play a crucial role in this phase, offering valuable insights gleaned from direct interactions with customers.
By analysing sales figures and customer feedback, the team identifies popular items to retain, evaluates intermediate sellers for potential inclusion, and eliminates less popular ranges. This process ensures that the new range is both market-driven and customer-centric.
Testing and Quality Control
Visually sorting through sample swatches, the team categorises designs into groups, maintaining a balance between established favourites, innovative styles, and trend-focused decors. This meticulous curation aims to offer a diverse, yet cohesive, collection that appeals to a wide audience. Moreover, the team ensures pricing alignment with supplier offerings before proceeding further.
When we are satisfied with the samples and pricing, the team orders full-size laminate samples of selected styles for in-depth evaluation. Practical testing is essential to assess the quality and feasibility of production.
Laminate is bonded onto panels to simulate real-world conditions, allowing the team to identify any potential issues, such as uneven textures or thickness variations. Only after passing these rigorous tests are the selected designs deemed suitable for production, and orders are placed with the respective suppliers.
While we don’t have a dedicated consumer panel, feedback channels are embedded within the organisation.
Showroom staff and Rearo branch managers serve as conduits for customer feedback, providing valuable insights that inform product decisions. This decentralised approach ensures that the voice of the customer is integrated into the design process, facilitating the creation of products that resonate with end-users.
The bathroom maybe the smallest room in the house, but its importance has grown significantly over the past two decades. More sophisticated and varied consumer tastes have required us to develop an advanced research and design strategy, to ensure we continue to meet and exceed our customers’ demands.
Here’s to the next 20 years!
The Selkie range is available online and through Rearo branches and selected Rearo partners. For more info, contact sales@rearo.co.uk.
REARO is proud to plant trees with Treeapp, a leading global tree planting organisation operating sites across the world.
With a dedication to reforest our planet, their work spans across 4 continents, having reforestation projects across 15+ countries with a specific focus on countries where they’re most needed.
Treeapp is committed to supporting projects which show a tangible impact for people and the planet, with each project supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We’re truly committed to making a positive impact on our planet in everything we do. We’re super excited to be part of Treeapp’s tree planting initiative and join forces in planting trees together!
Congratulations to Cameron Fletcher for passing his driving test! 🚗
Cameron works within the Warehouse in Rearo Glasgow, Cameron has completed his Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship and opted into the driving lesson scheme.
Rearo’s driving lesson scheme is 15 x 90-minute lessons arranged and paid for by Rearo that are held within working hours to ensure apprentices can attend without sacrificing personal time, Rearo also funds the Theory Test and Driving Test.
Rearo firmly believes that learning to drive builds confidence and a sense of independence.
Well done Cameron and enjoy the roads!