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Rowe Hankins Ltd
Power House
Parker Street
Bury
Lancs BL9 0RJ
United Kingdom

T.+44(0)161 765 3000
F.+44(0)161 763 1421

sales@rowehankins.com

www.rowehankins.com

Media info e-mail:
pr@ainsmag.co.uk


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Rail Safety Pioneer Toni Hankins Steps Back From Front line

The joint founder of rail safety specialist Rowe Hankins, Toni Hankins, stepped back from front line management to become executive chairman on June 7. In a busy career, Toni has taken the Bury based business from a back bedroom to a £5 million turnover, 60 employee business, with world wide connections and a sound engineering reputation.

Toni obtained a BSc in electronic engineering at Salford University. After graduation he spent some time with GEC subsidiary Salford Electrical Industries (SEI) on quartz crystal oscillators and filter development. He then became a self employed sales agent promoting the Heinemann range of high integrity hydraulic magnetic circuit breakers from Switzerland to the rail industry. This business became Rowe Hankins Components in 1986 when Toni was joined by fellow sales engineer Roger Rowe.

Initially the company only handled the Heinemann product. The Heinemann sales manager who signed the deal with Toni, Peter Michalke, later joined the company as European sales manager. Peter is to retire in June and will be joining in the company celebration at Ramsbottom Cricket Club.

Rowe Hankins continues to represent Heinemann and several other high quality Swiss manufacturers in the UK. These include OTMR’s from HaslerRail; power transformers, contact breakers and high speed DC circuit breakers from Sécheron; and point’s sensors from LEM.

Significantly, Rowe Hankins has developed in-house design, development, manufacturing and engineering support facilities. It is now a key supplier of high integrity circuit breakers, speed sensing and monitoring systems, wheel flange lubrication and other performance and safety enhancing systems for the rail traction industry.

Equipment manufactured by Rowe Hankins is in use in rail and light transit systems throughout the world. The company is also a major supplier to UK based train and tram networks and operators, including London Underground and Stagecoach Metrolink.

Toni has been a passionate advocate for the use of wheel flange lubrication in the UK rail fleet. This technology saves energy, reduces wheel and rail wear, improves uptime and mitigates the squeal that arises with dry flanges. Substantial investment and research has been made in developing a system specific to UK needs. Toni’s faith has been rewarded with pioneering trials in Merseyside and Manchester. “The main legacy I want to see to my 25 year rail industry career is Rowe Hankins Intelligent Wheel Flange Lubrication in use on every train in the UK,” says Toni.

Toni’s son Michael continues the family tradition as assistant managing director and company secretary, working alongside managing director Amanda Jones. “I am happy that I have built a strong team and a sound and successful business that will continue to grow and prosper,” commented Toni.

More Information

Mike Hankins, Tel. +44 (0)161 765 3000 Fax. +44 (0)161 763 1421
E-mail: sales@rowehankins.com Web: www.rowehankins.com
Rowe Hankins Ltd, Power House, Parker Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0RJ, UK

Press release issued: June 18, 2009

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Toni Hankins is presented with a retirement gift by Rowe Hankins Managing Director, Amanda Jones. Toni now takes up his role as Executive Chairman.

Toni Hankins, Executive Chairman of rail safety experts Rowe Hankins, shakes hands with Peter Michalke, their European Sales Manager who has retired.

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