Bognor firm celebrates 30 years in business

H and B Sensors Ltd was founded in April 1978 by the managing director, Roger Homer.

The company has grown to employ 30 workers and has become well established as a leading manufacturer whose products are used in this country and abroad.

The company designs and makes a comprehensive range of temperature sensors and associated products. Its customers include the likes of Shell and BP as well as companies in the power generation, aerospace, chemical, dairy and brewing industries.

But H and B Sensors is likely to leave its current 17,000sq ft factory for new premises if the promised business park at Oldlands Farm gets built.

Mr Homer said: "We need to be moving from Durban Road. That's our plan in the next five years. Hopefully, that will be to the new business park. Durban Road is dead for a business like us. There aren't many manufacturers left here.

"It's all right for second hand car sales and double glazing firms. But we have customers like BP and Shell and this is not a prestigious place to bring them. We have got a good facility but it's in the wrong place now.

"Any move is a few years away. It's not something we can do in the next couple of years."

Mr Homer started H and B in a small workshop in Felpham. He has overseen its growth to an enterprise with a 2m annual turnover. Further growth is also planned to ensure the business keeps thriving. Inquiries are welcome from school leavers who want to enter the engineering industry on a training scheme.

The future for top quality British engineering was good, stated Mr Homer, in spite of the loss of such household names in Bognor as Lec and Rosemount.

"There is still a need for British manufactured products in our industry because it's all about bespoke products. There's not the chance to make hundreds of the same products like the Chinese can do to come in and take our business," he stated.

However, he added that there was the need to think at least ten years ahead when investment decisions were made rather than be constantly concerned with satisfying short-term profit motives.

H and Sensors has received international approval for its products as well as the Investors in People standard for its workplace procedures.