The Warwickshire awards company that’s a worldwide winner
Melanie Osborne of Special EFX with a miniature version of the Aviva Women's Tour trophy
When the County Council commissioned a trophy for the Aviva Women’s tour they wanted a product fit for a world class cyclist. Warwickshire based EFX were only too happy to deliver the goods.
“People are often taken aback to find we are such a high-tech manufacturing company in such a rural setting,” says Melanie Osborne of EFX.
The company, which is based in Ettington near Stratford-upon-Avon, has carved out a worldwide reputation as a leader in awards design and manufacture. The company employs 35 staff at its 14,000 sq feet production site and is behind many of the most prestigious awards in sport, industry, public service and entertainment.
EFX was delighted to be involved in the production of the Aviva Women’s Tour trophy, designed by Whitnash school pupil and competition design winner, Matthew Jordan. The County Council, which hosted Stage 2 of the Aviva Women’s Tour, along with partners the University of Warwick, set a challenge for school children across the County to design both the start flag for the start of the race in Atherstone, as well as the stage winner trophy. The award was presented on the finish podium in Stratford-upon-Avon to cycling star Amy Pieters, who took stage two of the tour after a thrilling race through Warwickshire. Images of the race and the awards presentations were broadcast on ITV4 and across the globe, putting Warwickshire firmly in the international sporting spotlight.
“It was wonderful to play a part in the Women’s Tour and to see so much interest in cycling locally,” says Melanie whose company makes a range of trophies for sporting occasions ranging from the British Grand Prix to World Hockey.
Founded by Melanie’s husband Peter in the 1970s, the company started in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter making gentlemen’s gifts and accessories. The highly skilled team moved to Ettington in the 1990s and established EFX specialising in bespoke awards, trophies, plaques and medals.
From working for global giants to small organisations, every job is different and the company prides itself on being able to interpret a wide range of briefs within challenging timescales. The choice of materials is extensive from gold, silver and nickel plated aluminium to cut glass and crystal to acrylic, recycled plastics and sustainable wood.
“Having our own design and manufacturing base here in the UK means we can meet short lead times as well as providing a high quality product,” explains Melanie. She is also proud of her rural Warwickshire base which offers staff a “beautiful place to work”, surrounded by 3,000 acres of woodland.
The company continues to invest in both its staff and technology and last year spent half a million pounds on laser cutting and engraving machines, a 3D scanner, an acrylic polishing machine and a water treatment plant.
The wide range of processes carried out on site include 2D and 3D CAD design, rapid prototyping, 3D machining, water-jet and laser cutting, polishing, electroplating, laser engraving, digital UV printing and assembly.
Although the business has expanded into a multimillion pound company with growing global sales, EFX is proud to remain a rural, family firm. The firm’s values of high standards, enthusiasm, the nurturing of family values in the workplace, dedication and innovation all led to EFX winning the Rural Family Business of the Year in the Family Business Awards (2011).
“We enjoy showing clients what we are capable of,” concludes Melanie “and we get tremendous job satisfaction from creating custom-made, high quality products, many of which are completed in a short time frame. Whether we are receiving a request from Singapore at 5am for an event in Paris or a brief from a client in New York for an awards ceremony in Stockholm, we enjoy the challenge.”
Whether it’s Stockholm or Stratford-upon-Avon, EFX is a winner in its own right.
Fore more information about EFX, please visit https://www.efx.co.uk/.