SGI Composites, beforehand Sui Generis Worldwide, is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, marking three many years of composite manufacturing, engineering and innovation from its base in Colchester.
Established in 1996 by Ron and Lizzy Stone, the enterprise started as a small composite moulding firm earlier than creating into the engineered composite options supplier it’s at present. Now a part of Milbank Group, SGI Composites designs, manufactures and installs GRP options for patrons throughout sectors together with infrastructure, rail, power and utilities, water, defence, marine and automotive.
The corporate lately marked the milestone with a thirtieth anniversary occasion at its Colchester headquarters, bringing collectively staff, clients, suppliers and company to recognise the folks and partnerships behind its growth.
Over the previous three many years, SGI Composites has regularly tailored its capabilities in response to altering buyer and business necessities. Early work included specialist linings, flooring and bespoke tanks, with the enterprise happening to ship composite options for high-profile tasks together with St Pancras Worldwide, Ascot Racecourse, Frimley Park Hospital, Lloyds of London, Tesco and Community Rail.
This means to diversify has seen SGI develop experience throughout a broad vary of purposes, from entry platforms, walkways and enclosures to containment techniques, specialist linings and coatings, trench covers and bespoke manufactured parts.
The enterprise has additionally developed a number of specialist product ranges throughout its historical past. GeoMet started with a bespoke composite seating challenge earlier than creating right into a devoted vary, whereas Secure Tread established SGI’s presence in GRP anti-slip options. Extra lately, the Secure Spill vary has expanded the corporate’s capabilities in GRP spill containment.
A major milestone got here in 2017 when the enterprise joined Milbank Group, starting the subsequent part of its growth. Continued funding in its folks, amenities, manufacturing processes and technical capabilities has since supported its transfer in the direction of offering more and more complicated, engineered composite options.
In January 2026, Sui Generis Worldwide formally turned SGI Composites, introducing a brand new id designed to raised mirror the breadth of its capabilities and its future course.
Rita Cornwell, Managing Director of SGI Composites, mentioned:
“Reaching 30 years is a big milestone for SGI and an opportunity to recognise everybody who has contributed to the enterprise alongside the best way. Our success has been constructed on the data and dedication of our staff, along with the long-standing relationships we’ve developed with our clients and suppliers. Whereas lots has modified since 1996, that have offers us a powerful basis for the longer term. We’re persevering with to spend money on our folks, our capabilities and extra sustainable methods of producing, whereas creating the engineered composite options our clients want. It’s an thrilling time for SGI, and we’re wanting ahead to constructing on these foundations as we start the subsequent chapter of the enterprise.”
Lengthy-serving staff have performed an essential function in that journey, with a number of members of the present staff having spent many years with the corporate. Three staff alone have collected greater than 75 years of service between them, reflecting the depth of expertise and data inside the enterprise. That have, mixed with continued funding in new expertise, apprenticeships and the subsequent technology of the SGI staff, stays central to the corporate’s strategy.
Sustainability has additionally develop into an more and more essential a part of the corporate’s growth. SGI has used rPET resin inside its manufacturing since 2022, incorporating materials derived from multiple million recycled plastic bottles annually and delivering a discount of greater than 45% in related CO₂ emissions in contrast with standard resin. The enterprise additionally holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications.
Right now, SGI works with clients from preliminary survey and technical design by means of to fabricate and set up, together with using applied sciences similar to LiDAR surveying and finite ingredient evaluation the place required.
Latest tasks show the size and variety of this work, from roughly 2,500 linear metres of rooftop GRP entry infrastructure at Frimley Park Hospital to bespoke options for transport, utilities and industrial environments.
As SGI Composites enters its fourth decade, the main target is on persevering with to develop its engineering functionality, investing in its folks and expertise, enhancing manufacturing processes and supporting clients in new and current markets.
