The following article appeared in the Tameside Reporter, 24th March 2011:

A REAL GLASS ACT!

THE WORD apropos simply means ‘fitting’ and ‘to the purpose’.

A multi-million pound company, and one of the most creative in Tameside, continually strives to ‘purpose-fit’ for its customers.

Not only is Apropos Tectonic a grand example of a local firm performing well in tough financial times, it is one of the country’s leading suppliers of bespoke glass and aluminium structures.

Priding itself on producing ‘architecture in glass’ – the Ashton-based business also has a burgeoning international reputation and a history of cutting edge design, quality and endurance stretching back over 70 years.

This reputation is endorsed by the most respected worldwide authority, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; and a historical client list that includes: Hampton Court Palace, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Grosvenor Estates, Oxford and Glasgow Botanic, and both the English and Scottish Departments of Agriculture.

To view the Tameside Reporter article please click here.

Marketing manager Cheryl Stevenson (above) commented that Apropos is more than a company that produce; quality conservatories, roof lights, folding sliding doors, glass houses and garden studios.

“Our employees include craftsmen and engineers,” she said.

“The experience here is second to none and we tailor to all our customers’ needs and will continue to do so.

“Our long heritage means we have more than half a century of first-hand experience and as we have grown out of the 20th century and into the 21st century, we have the cutting-edge industry skills and staff.

In 1938, revolutionary Vincent Hartley, of Hartley Botanic Group, thought of himself as an inventor and patented his first aluminium greenhouse design.

His strong aluminium-based structures were used to create spacious elegant interiors, which optimised the natural light and glass area in a way which could not be done by the standard wood and iron structures of that era.

The company was years ahead of its time.

Hartley further explored ways to develop his patented design – which he sold through Apropos.

“We employ more than 75 members of staff and the majority of them are local people,” adds Cheryl.

“Despite our national and international reach we pride ourselves at being located in Tameside.”

In September 2009, Apropos became an independent company from Hartley Botanic. At the same time the company began designing and manufacturing cutting edge garden studios under the Atelier brand.

Atelier has raised the industry standard in the design and construction of highly efficient contemporary freestanding structures – a stylish and practical alternative to conservatories or garden rooms.

These too are designed to the client’s needs and individuality.

Furthermore, the company manufactures folding sliding doors, rooflights and windows under the highly-respected ClearSpan brand, which has been synonymous with innovative aluminium and glass designs since the 1930s.

Last summer, Apropos recorded monthly £1 million sales for the first time.

With business growing year-on-year, Apropos is moving to bigger headquarters next year, from their current Richmond Street headquarters.

The company’s dedication to stay local is such that it is moving to a new purpose-built factory in Dukinfield, hoping to bring extra employment to the area.

The new headquarters will also house a new state-of-the-art polyester powder coating plant, which will speed up the lead time on orders and enable Apropos to take on external polyester powder coating contracts.

Adding to Apropos’ list of success was a recent article in leading homes magazine, 25 Beautiful Homes, which stated that Apropos represented the “ultimate in glass design” and listed it as one of the “south’s best conservatory companies”.

“We are pleased that Apropos has been recognised for the superb quality of its products and unique designs,” said Cheryl.

“It is also a real a coup for us to be included in a list of the south’s best companies, from our headquarters in Tameside. We believe that this highlights our truly national status, with an influence and market far beyond our local base.”

More information on the firm can be seen online at www.apropos-tectonic.com, or you can call the friendly staff at 0800 328 0033.

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