Hordern-Richmond

Hordern-Richmond Aircraft Ltd was registered as a private company on 29 April 1937 with a nominal capital of £10,000 in 10,000 shares of £1. The objects were to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in aircraft and aeronautical equipment. Frederick Gordon-Lennox, 9th Duke of Richmond with Edmund Hordern (former test pilot of Heston Aircraft Company Ltd.) originally formed the company with the intention of producing aircraft of their own design, specifically the Hordern-Richmond Autoplane, based at Denham Aerodrome. As the time did not appear appropriate, effort was concentrated on the production of wooden airscrews, with the intention of using plastics and compressed woods for the same purpose at a later date. The company employed A.A.D. Lang, who had long experience of airscrew production and Tony Fletcher as chief designer. Hordern-Richmond merged with Lang Propellers of Weybridge, and a new factory was built at Haddenham, near Thame, Buckinghamshire. In April 1940 Flight magazine reported that the de Havilland company acquired an interest in the company with A.S. Butler taking a seat on the board.

Personnel

The Board and Management as constituted was: Chairman, The Duke of Richmond and Gordon; Managing Director, E. G. Hordern; Directors, A. A. D. Lang, H. S. K. Civil-Davies, C. Campbell, A. S. Butler (of de Havilland Aircraft), and C. D. Harrison; Chief Designer, A. A. Fletcher; Works Manager, A. J. Stevens; Secretary, W. J. Drummond.

The company's principal business was the development and production of airscrews using its Hydulignum laminated wood process to form the propeller blades. This product is still used today by the Permali group of companies.

In 1954 Permali Limited purchased Hordern-Richmond Limited, both companies were manufacturers of densified wood laminates and Bakelized products, Permali under the trade names "Permali" and "Dialam." Hordern-Richmond were manufacturers of "Hydulignum" wood laminates and other products. In 1956 a new Permali factory at Gloucester was opened. This factory brought together the various manufacturing processes within the Permali group, which includes Hordern-Richmond, Ltd., Hydulignum-Jabroc (Tools), Ltd., and Jabroc, Ltd., under the trade names "Permali," "Permawood," "Hydulignum" and "Jabroc," together with "Dialam" Bakelized paper bushings and "Permaglass" glass-fibre laminates.

Permali companies in the UK still trading in 2013

As new composite material technologies were developed and as older technologies were replaced, there have been a number of new companies formed as a result of corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions. Permali Gloucester Limited now concentrates on composite materials using glass and aramid fibres, and used in defence and medical markets, and is privately owned following a management buy-out in 1998. Permali Deho Limited is owned by a German company, and continues to make laminated wood composites. Mekufa UK Limited manufactures epoxy insulation products used mainly in electrical engineering applications.