Emplas has celebrated the long service of Kevin Mander and Quang Dinh, who have both reached 25-year milestones with the business.
Now Operations Quality Control Manager and Head of IT respectively, Kevin and Quang have seen Emplas grow from a small fabricator into a group employing more than 700 people.
Their own careers have developed alongside that growth, with both progressing from hands-on roles into positions that are central to the quality, systems and day-to-day consistency of the business.
Growing with the business
Kevin began in manufacture, working predominantly on door fabrication at a time when production involved far more manual cutting, reinforcing and glazing preparation than it does today.
He has since worked across a wide range of operational roles before moving into quality control, where his focus extends beyond checking finished products to developing the processes that help Emplas manufacture accurately and deliver on time.
Kevin said: “I have grown with the company. Emplas has invested in me, put me on different courses and helped me develop in the role and as a person.
“I am proud that I can pass my knowledge on to the people who will be here after me. To have seen the business grow from one small unit to where it is now means a lot, and I am happy to be part of it.”
Quang joined as an IT technician when the department consisted of just two people supporting around 25 computer users. At the time, the business was moving from DOS to Windows-based software, email was only beginning to replace fax, and a single server sat on his desk.
Today, he leads Emplas’ IT and systems function, which has grown to support more than 700 users.
His team has developed integrated software and the EVA platform, connecting departments and giving the business a single source of data.
Quang said: “What makes me most proud is the team we have and the way people across the business are always looking at how a process can be improved.
“No two days are the same. There are always new challenges, and that has kept the role interesting throughout my time here.”
The backbone of Emplas
Ryan Johnson, Group Managing Director of the Emplas Group, said Kevin and Quang’s experience, loyalty and willingness to take responsibility had made a lasting contribution to the company.
He said: “Kevin and Quang are part of the Emplas family and the backbone of the business. They have helped to shape our future, and, without their contribution, we would not be in the position we are today.
“They reflect what we stand for: teamwork, determination, integrity, delivering quality and putting the customer first. We value them enormously, and they have repaid that with loyalty and hard work.
“I have enjoyed sharing the journey with them, through all its ups and downs, and I want to thank them both personally. Long may it continue.”
The milestone reflects Emplas’ wider commitment to developing its people and retaining the experience that supports dependable quality, service and operational performance.
