John Applebee, MD of Hales Tool & Die Ltd (UK) has purchased the balance of company shares previously owned by parent company Hales Australia Pty Ltd. Hales will continue to represent a number of reputable global suppliers in the UK market.
Hales Tool & Die Ltd (UK) is a leading supplier of standard and custom tooling components and represents a number of reputable global suppliers such as Mastip hot runner systems, Strack standard mould components and Vega hydraulic cylinders.
Ex-toolmaker, now Managing Director of Hales UK, John Applebee, said, “After a successful partnership spanning more than two decades, it was a natural progression for me to take over the business.”
On the subject, Steven Hales, Group CEO commented: “We are confident that John will continue doing a great job going forward and we are pleased we could help John fulfil his wishes.”
Steven Hales will continue to own and operate Hales Australia and Hales Asia (Singapore) as normal.
“Our customers will continue to receive the same high quality of product and services which they have come to expect from Hales and its partners, but now being an independent company, we will have more opportunities to react faster to market trends and our customers’ unique requirements,” added John. “It’s important, now more than ever before, to run a tight ship and focused business with an emphasis on closer relationships between customers and suppliers alike.”
Hales UK started in 2000 at the turn of the new millennium, initially from offices in High Wycombe. John Applebee brought the technical experience to the company being a time served mould toolmaker and having gained a wealth of experience in mould design and tool procurement. Four years in, John was promoted to Managing Director and soon moved the company to his hometown of Maldon in Essex where it now operates.
For more information about Hales UK’s range of tooling components, visit the company website.
