A MELTHAM company really cleaned up at the Olympics.

Washroom products firm Disposables UK was chosen as supplier of hand towels, toilet tissues and soaps to the London Olympics and Paralympic Games.

Account manager Rosie O’Kelly attended the first meeting with customer Concept Janitorial Products in early 2010 and after a long and arduous tender process Disposables UK was awarded the prestigious contract in spring, 2011.

The first batch of the company’s Bay West dispensers was fitted in the velodrome in August, 2011. In total, more than 13,500 dispensers were fitted at the Olympic venues. Disposables UK also won the contract to fit 5,000 portable buildings around the Olympic Village. During the duration of the Olympics and the Paralympics, the firm shipped in 7,500 cases of product, about 220,000 toilet rolls and 10,000 cartridges of soap.

Disposables UK was formed in 1987 by Trevor Storer, who was chairman of the group until his death in 2010. His wife, Diane, is now company chairman backed by a board of directors.

The company was originally set up to sell and promote an imported range of toilet rolls, hand towels and wipes from France before cutting all ties with the French and investing in equipment to allow UK Disposables to operate entirely independently.

Originally based in Milnsbridge and working from an office and 3,000sq ft of shared warehousing, the company expanded into an 11,000sq ft unit in 1989 before finding its current home at Meltham in 1993. The headquarters site has 22,000sq ft of manufacturing space and 6,000sq ft of offices with further sites in Milnsbridge and Meltham Mills. The firm now has 92 employees.

Managing director David Burkill said: “Our company ethos has been based on the vision and entrepreneurial spirit of Trevor Storer, our late chairman and company founder, which has enabled us to punch above our weight in a very competitive market dominated by three major multinational players.”

Along with consultant engineer Matt Roebuck, the company has built innovative machines from scratch. Matt has also designed and modified existing machinery to manufacture specialist products normally requiring bespoke machinery costing millions to meet market needs and exacting quality requirements.

Said David: “Every year, our profits have been re-invested in the business. We’ve run a number of Manufacturing Advisory Service projects to educate and improve our staff and procedures. Earlier in the year, we scooped an MAS Works award which formally recognises our achievements as a manufacturing company.”

More recently, the firm placed an order of a £1.7m automatic production line which will enable it to manufacture market leading, luxury products and still a march on many of its rivals. This autumn also sees the launch of a new range of non-woven wipes.

Next year will see the company moving to new premises – across the road to the former David Brown Tractors site at Meltham Mills – to bring its operations under one roof.

Mr Burkill said: “This 140,000sq ft site will reduce costs and increase our operational efficiency by reducing handling and improving communications. The integration of all departments in one site will have a positive effect on communications and result in efficient and slicker operations across the organisation.”