In 1997 the company relocated to its current premises in Aldridge Road, Perry Bar, closing the Phillips Street
site. During the course of the move Philip Walters suffered a heart attack and as a consequence could not
continue as Works Director. After so long in one place the move was emotional for all involved. Philip, Martin,
Dani and her mother Diane closed the old building for the final time after walking through the empty spaces
reminiscing about the old times.
Following Dani Saveker's reorganisation of the production department in 2001 she was offered a directorship. In
September 2001 Martin Sacveker and his parents announced their plans to sell their shares in the company. Dani
immediately knew that she wanted to take over and acquire their shareholding. Within a month of their announcement
she had managed to create a plan of action for the shares.
February 2002 saw Martin Saveker resign as Managing Director. The Board and shareholders appointed Dani to
replace him. Mike Saveker retired two months later whilst Tony Saveker left to take a new direction in his
career.
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The current management team was appointed in May 2002. The future should have been bright, and it was -
but not quite in the way Dani had expected.
On 7th October 2002 Dani was woken by a telephone call announcing
that the factory was on fire. Some 15 fire engines were in attendance. The plating plant was not more and major
damage had been sustained to the factory roof. The origin of the fire was never conclusively identified. When
switched on automatically in the early hours of Monday 7th October the resultant overheating of the plant caused
the fire.
Over the following months a new roof, newly clad walls, a new sign and a new heating system were installed
whilst extensive cleaning took place. In May 2003 the previous Works Director Philip Walters opened the new
£250,000 plating plant in time to celebrate the centenary of this remarkable company, a centenary also marked
by its launch of a new corporate identity. The new logo and name style however maintained strong links with the
company's history by using elements from Ceilite, one of its original trademark designs. In addition to giving
itself a makeover the company also decided to mark its centenary by giving something back to the community.
Throughout its centenary year a percentage of each 100th order received each week was donated to the Midlands
based Acorns Trust - charity which cares for children who are unlikely to live to adulthood and offers support
for their families as well as providing respite and emergency care at each of its hospices in addition to round
the clock support at home and through its community teams.
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