Discover the surprising versatility of expanded polystyrene

If you're wondering (it's unlikely, but bear with it) who made that light, white, simultaneously tough and easy to break apart stuff that you've had to delve through to find whatever it was you really bought, there's a good chance it was manufactured by Eccleston & Hart Ltd., a Birmingham-based company established in 1837 as Hyde & Co. Because the material wasn't discovered until 1839, the company obviously didn't start off making it but, by the 1960s, it had well and truly immersed itself in the industry which it remains a big part of to this day. Still a family-run business, it is currently enjoying its greatest spell of success to date following its lowest point when its factory was targeted and destroyed in an arson attack.

rnThe material is used in many areas and for more than just protecting fragile items when they're shipped to you. As well as being used in the construction, builders merchants and arts industries, it has also been used in television, film and theatre productions as props and set elements and by shops, florists and bean bag manufacturers. In addition, they can be sculpted into logos and shapes to be used as decorative pieces in a variety of locations – when painted and decorated, they can look quite high-quality and it's very difficult to tell that they are made out of the material.

rnThe company is skilled and experienced at producing expanded polystyrene for a wide range of purposes and for a wide range of clients. It used CAD/CAM technology to shape its materials which means that it can accommodate any product shape and protect it well – the company has supplied it for industries including the marine, glassware and electronics industries. The CAD/CAM method of manufacturing means that the company can also produce high-quality representations of the client's original design logos and artwork made out of polystyrene when given 3D shapes, scanned images or even simple drawings. In addition, the company manufactures fire retardant bean bag beads which can also be used for wall cavity thermal insulation by themselves or mixed with concrete to give them a thicker ad more substantial density. It also stocks expanded polystyrene hot wire units that are used for shaping blocks of the material, as well as replacement parts if you need to take advantage of them.

rnIt's clear this company has the knowledge and experience that means it is more than capable of meeting any polystyrene-based demand and, because the materials they work with are so versatile that they can be used to fulfil almost any purpose, they should seriously be considered for any creative, protective or industrial role you need to fill.