Joel James MS spent Friday morning with Mr Andrew Howell MBE, at BCB International Ltd in Rumney to learn how the business innovates, manufactures, and supplies equipment to our medical and military front lines.
BCB International Ltd is an established leader in the field of protective and survival equipment and has become a major exporter of cutting-edge technologies. Over the last six decades, BCB International has designed, manufactured, and supplied medical and survival equipment to those operating in extremely challenging environments. Some of their largest export partners include the UK Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, UK Police Force and NATO.
Before he toured the site, Joel had an interesting meeting with Managing Director – Andrew Howell MBE, who informed Joel how recent events such as COVID and the war in Ukraine have impacted the business. Mr Howell MBE expressed how despite their military trade decreasing by approximately 40% during the pandemic, BCB International had the capacity to diversify their main income and increase their manufacturing of medical supplies such as hand sanitiser, in order to help the English and Welsh NHS.
During his tour, Joel saw a wide range of military equipment that the company provides to both UK and NATO armed forces such as survival kits, camouflage and concealment equipment and chemical formulations such as solid ethanol. Joel also got to see some of the products that are currently being sent to Ukraine to aid their defence.
Speaking after the visit, Joel said:
It was fascinating to visit BCB International today and see how they design, make, and sell high-end protective equipment.
Andrew and his entire team here are doing incredible work, especially in their efforts to aid the defence of Ukraine following the Russian invasion. To have such a well-established company, providing vital assets to both our military and medical front lines based in South Wales Central is remarkable. It really does show that the region has a lot to offer.
