The family-run British manufacturer adds to its leadership following major investment in a new three-acre production site.
Polydrain Civils, the British manufacturer of water management and drainage products, has announced the appointment of Oliver Hallpike as Managing Director.
Hallpike brings a decade of commercial and general management experience in construction and building products, most recently as Managing Director of Hauraton, with earlier senior roles at Aco Water Management and Ariston Thermo Group. His background spans commercial strategy, sales and marketing leadership, product development, and operations within the water management sector.
The appointment follows a period of major investment at Polydrain. The company has relocated to a three-acre production facility and it has more than doubled its production machinery, going from 13 machines to 27.
The most recent additions include injection moulding machines with clamping forces of up to 1,650 tonnes, capable of producing components of up to 25kg. This extends the company's manufacturing capability into larger products, with new ranges scheduled to launch in the coming months.
Hallpike takes on day-to-day leadership of the company from owner Adam Khan, who will focus on strategic projects, including further investment in products and operational capacity. The business remains entirely in family ownership.
The business operates a deliberately balanced model: small enough to maintain close relationships with its customers, yet large enough to manufacture its products in high volume and provide the market with confidence in supply.
As an example of the scale of product the company is now equipped to produce, Polydrain recently introduced the Maxichamber 600, a heavy-duty 600mm diameter inspection chamber system suitable for 160mm and 150mm pipework.
Oliver Hallpike said: "Polydrain is a British family-owned manufacturer that has invested substantially in its future – the site, the machinery, and the people. Product development and production are both in-house, so we can take a product from drawing board to moulding machine faster than businesses many times our size. My focus is on bringing that capability to a wider market and continuing to build our presence with merchants, contractors and specifiers."
Adam Khan, Owner and CEO of Polydrain Civils, said: "Oliver's appointment marks the next stage for Polydrain. Our leadership team has hands-on experience in every part of the business, which means decisions are made quickly and always with the customer in mind. Oliver brings the same approach: he knows this market well, has a proven record of growing manufacturing businesses, and shares our ambition for where we take the company from here."
