Company History

In the beginning

It is almost 40 years since Messrs. McInnes and Wiese combined their accumulated experience in materials handling technology - of a rather special kind - to become the brand leaders in the design and production of conveyors using rubber chains as the principle load-carrying component. The original company (aptly named) McInnes Wiese Ltd was founded in Verwood, Dorset in 1969.

The original product range consisted of grid belts (primarily for use in the car industry for under water cooling of freshly molded tyres) and continuous bucket elevators. The latter used two rubber belts carrying interlinked buckets - avoiding spillage between - to carry product carefully and continuously i.e. without transfers, from input to discharge. The product combined the best qualities of belt conveyors and conventional vertical bucket elevators making it an instant success with the processing industry.

1970’s

Continuous platform elevators were developed in the late 70’s .These were great improvements on conventional systems of the time. Noise, power consumption and the need for maintenance were all greatly reduced compared with the traditional ‘steel chain drive’ which was the industry standard.

1980’s

Orbitors or paternosters entered production in the early 80’s and provided a classic solution to the problem of transferring large quantities of items between multiple floors.

1990’s

In 1992 the company was reformed under the name of Nerak-Wiese Ltd., and in August 1993 relocated from Verwood to Brecon in Powys. Precise Engineering Ltd. was acquired in September 1993 to meet the increasing machining requirements, with further expansion of premises, plant and machinery in 1996 and 1999. One major addition was that of an in-house powder coating facility, then allowing complete control of product quality from start to finish.

2000’s

Nerak achieved ISO 9001:2000 in early 2003 cementing our commitment to provide our customers with the best possible services and products. Before and after the millennium foreign market opened up and in 2005 Nerak supplied the first of its machines to China. The Orbitor was designed and constructed in the UK with the final installation in Bejing.

With further expansion of plant machinery we are now able to offer in-house manufacturing using our own water-jet cutting machine (omax link), brake press and powder coat plant.

Early Continuous Bucket Elevator

Original 'Box-lifter' deisgn - 1970's

Huw Watkins (MD) - Receives a warm welcome in China