SHAWBURY, England—Smithers Rapra's Shawbury facility is back in operation following a Sept. 23 fire that damaged the facility's product testing laboratory. According to the firm, the work done in the laboratory accounts for less than 10 percent of the production at the facility.
“The Smithers Rapra team, led by Vice President of European Operations Sam Sheppard Fidler, stepped in immediately and, along with the courageous professionals from the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service that responded to the scene, were able to minimize the damage,” Smithers Rapra President Nat Leonard said. “Thanks to the commitment of the team and the support of the entire Smithers organization, we were able to confirm the safety of the facility and quickly get back to work serving our clients.”
Workers returned to the building on Sept. 26 and quickly navigated operational challenges that the fire damage may have caused. Members of the Smithers Rapra, Smithers Information and Smithers Group teams had established a plan that would address any problems the fire may have caused and allowed for a smooth transition, according to the firm.
Smithers Group CEO Michael Hochschwender praised the “unselfish, team-oriented spirit” of the Smithers Rapra employees, adding that he was impressed with the ways in which the employees supported each other.
“I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service that responded so quickly, the many contractor partners we relied on to make sure the facility is safe and, of course, our employees for their tremendous attitude and effort that resulted in this positive outcome,” Hochschwender said.