We specialise in meeting the needs of small and medium sized manufacturing companies. Our priorities are to keep costs for our clients down and to act with speed and accuracy. In the competitive world of international commerce, we believe we have the knowledge and experience to give our clients the edge. We are fully familiar with the pressures of both the retail and large industrial markets.

Conformance was established at the beginning of 1994 and since then the company has built up a client base which includes manufacturers and importers from the UK and countries around the world. Product areas include the full range of CE marking directives from electronic, electrical and mechanical equipment through medical devices and personal protective equipment to the civil uses of explosives and the Recreational Craft Directive. The smallest device we have ever worked on was the size of a kidney bean; the largest a multi-million pound water industry installation.

Our head office is located in the village of Great Hucklow in the Peak District area of central England, between the major cities of Manchester to the west and Sheffield to the east. The office is a converted Methodist chapel which was originally built in 1806 but now includes office and meeting room facilities and excellent communications and IT resources. In late 2006 we moved our testing lab into a recently converted 3000 sq ft industrial unit within the villiage of Great Hucklow. We have adequately equipped this space to enable us to perform most of the testing required as part of our assessments, both electrical and mechanical. It also provides safe storage of clients' equipment and our fully fitted workshop allows us to engineer specific test equipment as required. Click here to download a map of how to find us. NOTE: Visits by appointment only, please!

Senior Consultants

The company was founded by Nick Williams who is a specialist in electrical safety and manufacturing engineering. A BSc (Hons) graduate in Physics and Electronics, his background includes work on national gas distribution, the design of lightning simulation apparatus and of photographic enlargers. Prior to starting the company, he worked for a manufacturer of domestic electrical appliances where duties included managing product design and production engineering as well as product safety approvals for markets in over twenty countries.

Pete Hall has an MSc in manufacturing engineering and 15 years experience in a wide range of manufacturing environments including automotive and defence projects. At Conformance he specialises in mechanical equipment, including pressure equipment and machinery for use in explosive atmospheres. He speaks five languages and has travelled widely in the course of his work and leisure activities. Previous experience includes lifting equipment, glass and plastics manufacture.

Darren Pearson is our electromagnetic compatibilty and telecoms approvals expert. He also deals with electrical appliances and because of his leisure interest in SCUBA diving is our Recreational Craft specialist. He is a qualified electrician and has worked as a test technician in an EMC test laboratory.

Andy Clifford managed the electrical test lab for one of the UK's best known LVD notifed bodies before joining Conformance. He has extensive experience in approvals and standards compliance testing for small appliances and medical electrical equipment.

Consultants

Murray Knapp completed an engineering apprenticeship, and a first Degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Operations Management. He then spent 15 years working in the defence industry, culminating in being appointed UK Design Authority for a significant UK defence system. He is a highly experienced Chartered Engineer and also provides the health and safety focus for the Company's operations.

Jim Woodall joined the company in November 2006 after completing a PhD in Physics at UMIST in Manchester. He is currently gaining experience in a variety of areas, including Machinery Directive requirements, Low Voltage Directive requirements, test procedures for assessments, Technical File creation and web site management.

Technicians

Katie Dent is a recent zoology graduate who has transferred her laboratory skills to manage Conformance's dedicated test facility, situated near our main office in Derbyshire. She is also responsible for all our clients' products while in our possession, maintains equipment calibrations and performs product testing.

Associates

Nick Hardie is a chartered mining engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He's held a wide range of positions in the mining and tunnelling industry from (literally) coal-face worker to General Manager at the only working gold mine in the British Isles. After a short spell working as a Conformance employee, he moved on to the Irish Health and Safety Authority and then into mangement of tunelling and underground and surface mining projects. He retains strong personal links with Conformance as an adviser and consultant on mining and heavy machinery projects.

Office Management

Sue Herbert is our office manager and deals with company administration and finance. Sue has been with us for many years and knows our operations inside out, offering a knowledgeable contact point for existing as well as new clients.

Annabel Millington joined the company directly after obtaining five AS levels. She is an apprentice accountant, currently assisting Sue with all accounting, financial and administrative tasks. She is also supplementing her apprenticeship with a course at the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, leading towards an AAT qualification in accounting.

Company Registration Details

Conformance Ltd
The Old Methodist Chapel
Great Hucklow
Nr. Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 8RG

Registered in England, Company No. 3478646
VAT No. GB 741 1166 65