Priorclave celebrate 20 year anniversary
This year, laboratory autoclave manufacturers Priorclave celebrate their 20th anniversary. They were founded by Charles Prior, with a staff of six, in February 1988, in a modest manufacturing facility on the former Royal Arsenal site in Thamesmead, London. The Company initially manufactured laboratory autoclaves, climatic test chambers and Go-Kart Engines, one of which, the Hornet, gave rise to their distinctive logo. However, whilst maintaining a small turnover in bespoke Climatic Chambers, the design and manufacture of laboratory steam autoclaves quickly developed as the core business.
Priorclave's first two autoclaves were exported to Ireland, establishing the importance of international trade. A network of overseas distributors and an impressive blue chip client list at home and abroad secured the future. Now with a complement of 35 personnel collectively responsible for developing worldwide markets in virtually every continent and major trading centre, Priorclave have grown to be regarded as world leaders in their field.
Priorclave also innovate in manufacturing, maintaining modern CNC manufacturing machinery. In 1996 their policy of retaining flexibility and control of quality by manufacturing as much as possible in-house led to investment in a purpose built semi-automatic welding machine producing their own stainless steel pressure vessels.
In a world of increased regulation and certification Priorclave have kept up with the times. BS9001 certification was achieved in 1995 and maintained as this progressed to BS EN ISO 9001:2000. To support its growing servicing, testing and calibration operations, in 1998 Priorclave was accredited by UKAS as a calibration laboratory. Priorclave's pressure vessel designs have always been independently checked and approved by external insurance assessors, a process formalised in 2004 by certification under the European Pressure Equipment Directive.
By 1995 continued growth necessitated the acquisition of an adjacent factory, doubling the size of the facility, further expanded to over 2,500 M2 in 2000 by roofing over the space between the two buildings.
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