2011 Review
2011 has been a busy but fruitful year here at First Water. The business continues to grow. Our sales in the Consumer Dressings category grew by a modest 5% vs. 2010. Revenues from Professional Dressings were more than 50% up on 2010.
The greatest achievement of 2011, however, has been putting in place a much more scalable infrastructure for future technology and business development. An extension to our manufacturing unit in Ramsbury has significantly increased our cleanroom space, packaging room, warehouse and production office space. We have also invested in new converting equipment to enable us to deliver increased output in 2012 and beyond.
From a product perspective, the focus has been several major developments many of which are due to be commercialised in H1 2012.
The latter part of the year saw a reorganisation of our senior management team. Highlights are:
- Dr Mark O'Brien as our new Head of Operations. He replaces our previous Operations Manager who after seven years has moved on to Rolls Royce.
- Rob Halstead as Head of Business Development.
- Dr Nick Boote as Head of R&D.
- Dr Hugh Munro to the new role of Chief Scientist.
- Chris Beckford as Head of Finance.
Key infrastructure projects for 2012 will include
- the acceleration of our clinical, scientific and manufacturing partnering programmes, to help facilitate product development and commercialisation
- investment in R&D - notably new people - to help deliver increased demand for hydrogels containing active ingredients.
Thanks to all our staff, suppliers and customers for making 2011 our best year yet.
Phil and Justin
Some photos of the extension in progress through the year...
January 2011 - breaking ground
March 2011 - structure in place
March 2011
March 2011
December 2011 - new packing room
December 2011 - new packing room
December 2011 - one of the two cleanroom extensions