From garage to global: JDR Products celebrates 45 years

The year 2025 marks a major milestone for JDR Products, as the family-run manufacturer celebrates 45 years in business. Built on innovation, resilience and strong family values, the company has grown from modest beginnings into a thriving manufacturing operation.

The journey began in 1980, when Ken Wharrad founded the business out of a passion for making things. One of his first creations was a rolling mill used to produce butt-seamed tube. Working during his spare time while employed at British Aluminium, Ken built the machine in a wooden garage at his parents’ house. This enabled him to manufacture TV aerials and led to the launch of Aerial Supplies, which laid the foundation for the future company.

As demand for products increased, the business quickly outgrew the family garage. It moved to its first dedicated site in Redditch, which was located in a former air raid shelter. A second move to larger premises soon followed. This period coincided with the CB radio boom, which drove a surge in demand for aerials. With the business gaining traction, Ken left his shift work to run the company full time. His wife, Rosemary, took on administrative duties while also raising their young family. It became a true family enterprise.

Ken’s creative approach to engineering meant the workshop was constantly evolving. He designed and built bespoke machinery to solve specific production challenges. With a growing family in mind, the company began developing children’s play equipment. Items such as swings, slides, and climbing frames were manufactured using JDR’s trademark aluminium tubing. These products showcased Ken’s talent for craftsmanship and innovation.

As the business developed into JDR Products, its capabilities expanded. The company began to secure larger commercial contracts. One early success was supplying mop handles with button clips for Betterware. Everyone pitched in to support production. Rosemary even remembers manually inserting clips into each handle on the factory floor.

Their son, David Wharrad, became involved at an early age. He helped during school holidays while pursuing a separate career as a retained firefighter. For over a decade, David balanced life at the factory with emergency callouts. Although he originally intended to become a full-time firefighter, the company’s rapid growth led him to join JDR full time in 1998.

In 2013, David oversaw the company’s relocation to a purpose-built facility on Whitacre Road in Nuneaton. This move enabled further growth in aluminium manufacturing and created opportunities for local employment. Several loyal staff members relocated with the business, including one couple who moved their entire family to remain part of the team.

Over the past 12 years, David, supported by his wife Rachel, has led JDR into new markets. Under their leadership, the company has diversified its offering and built a reputation as a trusted subcontractor. Today, JDR supplies precision-engineered components for clients in gardening, food production, and construction. The company plays a vital role in supporting well-known UK brands behind the scenes.

In 2017, JDR launched the TruDomes brand. This innovative line of modular geodesic domes, made from aluminium tubing, has become popular in the glamping industry. These versatile structures are now used for retreats, yoga studios, dining spaces and events. One dome even featured as a festive snow globe on the roof of London’s O2 arena.

Further expansion came in 2022 with the launch of RapidGB. This brand focuses on rapid deployment shelters for emergency response teams. The range includes decontamination tents, command units and other practical structures built on JDR’s aluminium fabrication expertise.

Today, the company operates through three distinct brands: JDR Products, TruDomes and RapidGB. JDR Products continues to offer full-service metal fabrication, from design to delivery, serving a wide variety of industries. While the company’s origins lie in aerials and tubing, its reach now extends across the UK and beyond.

The journey has not always been easy. Starting a business with a young family and using their home as collateral required enormous courage. Through hard work and an unwavering focus on quality, JDR has not only survived but thrived. The founding values remain at the heart of the company today.

“As we celebrate our 45th year, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved and grateful to all those who have been part of the journey,” says David, who is now Managing Director. “Our success has always been powered by innovation, dedication and teamwork. We’re excited for what the future holds.”