HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

From a family of seven children Frank & three of his sons John, Max & Doug started Frank Mercer & Sons Ltd some 40 years ago, starting with John as soon as he left school and the other two helping but as soon as they were old enough they too left school and joined him. Other family members helped occasionally but decided to get proper jobs whilst the other three battled on in some dreadful conditions. Initially they collected and baled cardboard, they decided that scrap polythene prices were less volatile so collected and baled that instead. For many years this was the team.

As circumstances and cash flow improved they began to buy second hand machinery, and thanks to Johns somewhat unconventional maintenance and adaptations back then, they were able to start pelletising and blowing film. The company grew and in those days made tubing for the carpet industry, refuse sacks and other bespoke tubing. The rise in inexpensive imports of refuse sacks and the demise of the carpet industry made a change of course inevitable.

In 1998 the whole factory was re-tooled and underwent a fundamental change, this co-incided with the introduction of the Packaging waste legislation and an ever growing awareness by the public and commerce of the benefits of recycling waste. Frank and the boys could not really get to grips with this change in attitude as that is all they had ever done! Following the re-tooling and a great deal of research and development, mistakes and misfortunes Toughsheet was born and the company turned all its attentions to Building products made from 100% recycled materials.

Obviously by now the Company had grown employing many more staff and some very loyal long term employees and became the success story it is to-day. Dad finally retired in his 80th year and John did the same, although Johns absence was short lived and is very much in the hub of the business on a day to day basis. Max went into his own business but is still remembered by many in the Plastics industry from those early days. Doug continues as the MD of the company always striving to look at the next innovation or techniques to extend our product range and improve quality and production methods.

Very sadly our brother Max died on 19th July 2010 aged 50 years. We wanted to pay tribute to our brother and his contribution to our company, so we have launched toughsheetmax a 500mu dpm, Max was a very successful body builder and was renowned for his incredible strength so we feel this is a fitting tribute to Max to name our strongest and most resilient building product after him.

We give you ToughsheetMax

From Toughsheet Building products (A Family Company)