A Valleys manufacturer of protective shelters for young trees globally has celebrated 35 years in business as it focuses on a new phase of expansion.
Tubex opened its Aberdare factory in 1987 which has tripled in size since. It is estimated 150 million tonnes of CO2 has been sequestered globally by trees protected with recyclable Tubex shelters.
The business, which exports just under half of its shelters, is seeing a significant rise in domestic demand to support ambitious tree planting targets of both the UK and Welsh governments, as well as demand from the private forestry sector which are supporting firms to offset emissions with tree planting
Tree shelters are vital for saplings to grow to their full potential by providing protection from foraging animals and extreme British weather. They significantly increases a sapling’s survival rate. Last year alone its tree shelters were estimated to have saved 12.5 million saplings, the equivalent of 14,600 football fields of new trees.
The business is expected to grow volumes between 5% to 10% for the next tree planting season (autumn this year to next spring. It also aiming to increase old tree shelters recycled into new tree shelter products by five-fold from 20 tonnes this year to 100 tonnes in the next tree planting season.
Internationally, Tubex’s largest markets include Germany, Spain, and France respectively.
The operation currently employs 68 ,but is now looking to recruit.
Last year it launched a new biodegradable range which can be left in situ by planters and will naturally biodegrade over time. It is being targeted for particularly dense or difficult access areas of woodland where the collection and recycling of tree shelters is more challenging.
Site director Dean Latten said: “As a fresh-faced 18-year-old, I started as a line operator and have since worked my way up to become site director.
“My job has seen me travel around the world to showcase the vital role of tree shelters and introduce new production innovation to the Aberdare site. More recently, I’ve been focused on supporting my team while working through the pandemic. Starting from the bottom definitely helped me become the leader I am today. I’m extremely proud of my team and the work we do here.”
Following a visit to the firm to celebrate 35 years of manufacturing the mayor Rhondda Cynon Taf Wendy Treeby said: “As an employer Tubex continues to offer local people an exciting and rewarding career path.
“I would like to pay tribute to the team at for their commitment and dedication to manufacturing excellence, particularly those long-serving members of staff, many of whom have worked here for the better part of those 35 years. They are creators, innovators and industry pioneers in tree shelter solutions which help protect young trees not only in the UK, but worldwide.”
Beth Winter, MP for Cynon Valley, said: “I would like to congratulate Tubex and the team at their Aberdare site for reaching their 35th anniversary. As a local employer they have long made a vital economic contribution to both Aberdare and the wider Cynon Valley area, employing thousands of people over the years.
“Tubex’s lasting success demonstrates Cynon Valley’s attractiveness and our huge potential as an employment site for the environmental jobs of the future.”
Tubex is owned by US packaging giant Berry Global.
