JTAPE: 20 years of innovation

JTAPE, the Macclesfield-based supplier of innovative masking solutions for the UK and international collision repair industry, has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

JTAPE founder Oliver Jevons (pictured centre) started his career in the family business that developed adhesive solutions for bodyshops. Jevons soon became aware of the challenges painters faced while masking up cars ready to be refinished, so he started looking for a solution – and the idea for JTAPE was conceived.

His vision was to provide high-quality masking and adhesive supplies to automotive bodyshops, which was realised in 2003 with the launch of JTAPE’s first patented product – the Advanced Foam Masking Tape.

Back then, early manufacturing involved hand-winding the foam tape, but fast forward 20 years and the company has experienced impressive growth. The first of many milestones came in the first year, when production was moved to a small facility in the nearby Cheshire village of Goostrey, with Jevons and one other employee manufacturing the now-famed products using just two machines.

By 2010, the workforce had grown tenfold, and the business had moved back to Macclesfield where it was operating 10 purpose-built production lines. Over the past 13 years, the number of production lines has tripled and the business is now driven by a team of more than 50 staff working across production and sales.

Chris Jevons (pictured right), JTAPE’s new commercial director, said: “All team members share the goal of providing automotive bodyshops with the best range of exceptional quality adhesive products to help drive efficiencies and reduce labour costs while achieving the perfect finish.

“We couldn’t be prouder of everything the team has accomplished so far with JTAPE. Our family has been working in the automotive industry for decades, and to celebrate this 20th anniversary with so much success behind and ahead of us is such an incredible achievement,” he added.

JTAPE’s current product range now includes more than 50 individually designed adhesive and masking solutions, and more than 2,000 product lines.

Alongside the growth of the JTAPE product offering, distribution has spread far and wide, too. JTAPE products are now sold in 63 countries and in addition to automotive, they are used in the marine, aerospace, construction, industrial, rail, trade and decorative sectors.

JTAPE has been successful in forming and maintaining significant partnerships with major paint suppliers in the UK over the past two decades, partnerships that have allowed for the distribution of products to vehicle manufacturers such as Aston Martin, McLaren, JLR, Rolls-Royce and Toyota.

In addition, the company has been recognised for its innovation in business, design and technology, with many regional and international awards to its name. But the business won’t be resting on its laurels as it enters its 21st year of innovation and production. “With aggressive growth plans for the next five years, we have so many exciting things in store, and the future of JTAPE is looking bright,” Chris Jevons added.