1968
Ledwell Engineering is born in a pigeon loft on Marfitt Street, Leicester, to manufacture machined components to the local hosiery trade.
1972 - 1975
Carol Simms, Paul's wife, joins founder, Paul Simms, to act as both a Director and company secretary. They survive the ‘Three Day Week’ of the mid 70s energy crisis, working 24 hour shifts and later welcome Keith Williams who comes with a great technical background.
1980
Paul and Keith team up with a local entrepreneur to finance and manufacture ‘Boiling Point’, an instant boiling water tap. They then start the business ‘Hotta UK’ to sell the units to the public and wholesale.
1994
Ledwell has already outgrown its premises several times and now moves to new premises at 50 Cannock Street. Along with new storage facilities, the machinery range is expanded to offer a greater range for the growing customer base.
1995 - 2000
Ledwell wins a large 5 year contract working with Royal Mail and is awarded with both bronze or silver status as a first class supplier over each consecutive year.
2000
Working with inspirational customers, Ledwell becomes a proud supplier to two of fifty prestigious products to mark the millennium. The Duallist Drum Pedal and Hotta UK’s Boiling Point Boiling Hot Water Tap are awarded a place in the Millennium Dome by the UK Design Council.
2006
Benn Simms, Paul’s son, is appointed as Managing Director at Ledwell with Matthew Aucott appointed as Production Director. Both have worked their way through the business from the junior ranks.
2008 - 2013
Ledwell manufactures tooling and mouldings for household names, Tropicana and Nescafé, helping them to design revolutionary products for vending machinery. Investment in state-of-the-art electric machinery continues, specifically for the packaging industry.
2017 - 2022
To lower the factory’s carbon footprint, reduce energy consumption, further capacity and keep up with demand, Ledwell invests in energy-efficient machinery including two Haitian 470 ton machines.
