Strata Products
Growth per annum over three years: 78%
Position: 22
STRATA Products is a privately-owned business set up in Pinxton nearly 25 years ago by the Ilsen family. Its products can be found in many high street and edge-of-town stores as well as online. Asda, Homebase, Tesco and Babiesrus sell Strata products.
A specialist in injection moulding, it makes a wide range of products for home and office, garden and recycling, and baby and pet for both the UK and overseas markets.
These range from plastic water butts, watering cans and storage boxes through to "storemaster" storage boxes and babies' potties.
Employing about 100, Strata boasts state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities including robotics and the associated equipment needed to mass produce in mature and highly competitive markets.
It uses real-time computer-assisted stock control linked to its sales order processing system
All product development is carried out in-house to retain control over both aesthetics and fitness for purpose.
As well as making products for the general market, Strata makes for private-label customers.
The Ilsen family have a strong heritage in the sector. Henry Ilsen and his son, Michael, took an earlier business to Aim, the Alternative Investment Market, before selling it to Brunzl.
They subsequently returned to the sector with Strata making an initial success with its range of storage boxes with snap-on lids.
While supplying a range of toy storage boxes to toy and baby retailers in 1994, Strata saw an opportunity to launch its baby bath-time products.
Five years ago, it launched its "Smart Storemaster" boxes, which have proved hugely successful.
The following year, it launched new products for the recycling market and today Strata continues to research and produce new markets.
Henry Ilsen retired from the business in 1994 and today it has been joined by Michael's son, Jay.
Jay, who is sales director, said Strata had invested in improving the designs of its products.
"We have spent a lot of time on improving our technical ability and investment to drive efficiencies."
He said the company had invested in new machinery which helped reduce waste while increasing productivity.