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.

John Cotman has over 7 years experience as a manager for a leading international test house, specialising in electrical and physical testing, and joined Conformance in 2010 as our electrical expert. He has also gained valuable experience as a quality manager for the lighting industry, which has also provided him with a thorough understanding of the intricacies of importing electrical equipment into the EU.

Consultants

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.

Glen Sankey joined Conformance in 2010, having completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering. His interest in vehicles and machinery means he has a lot of practical experience in these areas, and his skills are invaluable when it comes to machinery assessments. He is also gaining experience of the various directives, as well as creating checklists and compiling Technical Files.

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.

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.

David Payne attained an honours degree in Wood Science at Bangor University, and then spent 6 years conducting research and development in the field of materials science of Bio-composites. He has spent 11 years in the commercial manufacturing sector for a leading producer of remedial construction products, including roles in research and development, quality assurance and providing technical support, eventually becoming Technical Director. He has spent the last 7 years working for the BM TRADA Group in conformity assessments of products in respect of the Construction Products Directive, both to harmonised European standards and European Technical Approvals. Hence he has invaluable skills to assist and advise manufacturers, importers and distributors in achieving compliance with the Construction Products Directive/Regulation.

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.

Clare Harley is our sales and marketing assistant and is responsible for maintaining customer relations. She helps to organise and publicise our company events, and produces marketing material for our products and services, as well as assisting Sue with the accounts.

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

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