The Tech-Board Story (Stranger then fiction)

The true story of the most dramatic "Greenfield Startup" failure in British manufacturing history

The Grand Opening

By the time of the grand opening, the plant had been slung together, but the first signs of the problems ahead were beginning to raise their heads. Hardboard, a traditionally flat material, was coming out very "wavy"

It was a bright day from memory William Hague, Welsh Sec at the time opened Tech Board, the amazing thing about the day was that production worked perfectly all day!! which was quite an unusual occurrence.

Several of the staff were assigned in to teams to take the visitors around the plant to show people where the wood went in, and "wavy" boards come out.

Unfortunately I (Pierre) was on holiday for the grand opening, quite sad. I would have enjoyed showing the "guests" the famous wavy boards :-)

Several month's before the plant was officially opened, we held a "press Topping" ceremony. The press turned up, along with several of the backers. This also was the first anniversary of the start of the build of the main plant. To celebrate this, Tech-Board erected a marquee and had a "cake cutting" opportunity for the press. The only damper on the day was that Malcy had broken his leg on a skiing holiday a few weeks before.

	The press.
Here you can see some of the "backers" at the press topping. To the right you can see Cazza, the financial controller.
	The press plate being moved into place.
MMmmm. The press plate being moved into place. They stuck a eight foot cardboard candle on the top, along with a cardboard flame. The thing is that the flame kept on falling over.
	Here the dodgy fake flame is up........
	.....and fell over
	....and back up
	....and
If the devil could cast his net..... (from left to right...) Pierre "look at my 1960's tie" Topping, Ted, and G2 who was on placement with Tech-Board
	This was taken during the press topping thing where the major of   Gwent turned up to say a bit.
From left to right. Sharon (Tony.R's secretary), a backer ?, Ade the mad sales bloke, and you can see part of David Heslop.
	This is the Lukki rails going down. This was from the Dry part of the mill.