Aaron Radiators celebrates 50 years in Croydon
Firm drives into a confident future
Aaron Radiators marks fifty years as a family company
WHEN William Stringer founded his car radiator firm in 1952 (edit – make that 1962) he dubbed it Aaron Radiators to ensure it a top spot in the phonebook, helping draw in the customers.Now with the company, based in Whitehorse Lane, South Norwood, celebrating its 50th anniversary as a family firm, the Stringers are ensuring the company maintains its ranking in the industry.
William Stringer himself died four years ago but the company’s eight staff still includes his wife, Jane, who is managing director and her son and daughter, Gerald and Laura.
While the family ethos of the company has not changed, it has had to adapt to changing times which have seen the small radiator manufacturing companies challenged by an influx of large motor parts concerns.
Gerald Stringer, the company’s sales director, said: “There is so much competition these days.”
Aaron’s has also had to face the fact that the quality of radiators has had to improve.
When the business started, the life-span of a radiator was around two to three years. Now they can last ten to 15 years, although the effects of that economic challenge are offset by the fact there are a lot more cars on the road.
The edge in the industry has not stopped Aaron’s from still being involved in the manufacture of radiators, for both cars and heavy plant machinery.
But for Mr Stringer one of the most radical decisions the company has made to cement its future is to move into what he describes as “the bespoke side of the industry.”
More effort is now being put into reconditioning radiators for classic cars. Combining this with making an increasing impression on manufacturing radiators for kit cars, Mr Stringer is driving towards a confident future.
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Aaron-Radiators-celebrates-50-years-Croydon/story-16021458-detail/story.html
