About Us    Heritage

An introduction to Custom Covers (1984) Ltd

Custom Covers was established in 1984, initially providing canvas work to the marine trade. The company has grown since that time and diversified into other complementary areas, including marquees and aluminium high tensile structures.

Custom Covers is a medium sized organisation that reported a £4.5 million pound turnover in the year ending November 2005. The company employs more than 60 people from its base in Southampton. The staff are drawn from the local cover, sail making and upholstery industries with a high technical skill level and the ability to bespoke equipment to customers' requirements. These skills have allowed the Company to develop products that have won prizes for its marquee stand at the annual Showman's show in every year between 1996 and 2007, the judges making special note of the attention to detail and quality achieved.

The company provides a made-up textile service by converting roll materials into their final product. The main area of specialisation is the Marquee trade.

The Company is split into three main departments:

1. A PVC or canvas department handling cloths of 500gsm and upwards using a computer controlled cutting table and modern high frequency welders to allow rapid and accurate manufacture of PVC sheeting up to 750 square metres. Recent investment has resulted in a 30m welding table. The department has a range of modern heavy-duty sewing machines for non-weldable materials and finishing operations.
2. The second manufacturing department sews lightweight materials, normally used as decorative linings for the marquee and leisure industry. Custom Covers is currently the leading manufacturer of decorative linings in the U.K.
3. The third department is a service department, which provides linings services to the event industry. This department is currently the fastest growing area of the business and its success is based on the three-year contract to provide linings services signed with Arena Structures Ltd in 2005.

In addition to making up textile products, the company can also supply marquee framework, for 3m to 40m structures, solid flooring and doors. This allows a full service to be provided for customers looking for a tent or marquee.

The Company brochure visually reflects this summary and provides further insight.

Custom Covers is a member of the Performance Textiles Association formally known as MUTA and as a Company seeks to provide an appropriate solution to any textile requirements. In July 2006 The Company were certified ISO 9001 2000 by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).

Custom Covers - Customers

The Company serves a wide variety of customers ranging from small marquee operators up to large players in the event industry such as Arena Structures Ltd, Owen Brown Ltd, Danco International. Plc and Field & Lawn. We are proud of our ability to offer our customers the flexibility of small components up to complete projects.

Recent projects include the design and manufacture of the ceremonial awnings on the back of the recently commissioned Type 45 destroyers for the MOD, the manufacture of 20 rapid deployment helicopter shelters used in the second Iraq war, a textile roof for a quarry in Scotland,  Specialised covers for use in the Antartic and the installation of decorative interior linings at major sporting events including the Open, Stella Artois tennis tournament at Queens club and the Grand National meeting at Aintree.

Custom Covers - Ownership and Management

David Sanders bought the Company in its current form in 1984. Having steered the company through 18 years of profitable growth in 2002 David ensured the next phase of development and management succession by selling the business to a management buy-out led by a family backed consortium. The buy-out team consisted of his son Robert Sanders and son-in-law Simon Bell who with David comprise the current board of Directors.