Grey Technology (Gtech)

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Grey Technology (Gtech)
Company typePrivately held company
Industry Technology
Founded2001;23 years ago (2001)
FounderNick Grey
Headquarters,
United Kingdom
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Nick Grey
(Owner), Jothie Walford
(Managing Director)
Products Vacuum cleaners, floor sweepers, grass trimmers, hedge trimmers, power tools
OwnerNick Grey
Number of employees
160 (2023)
Website www.gtech.co.uk

Grey Technology Ltd, which uses the trade mark Gtech, is an independent British company designing and manufacturing cordless home and garden appliances such as vacuum cleaners, floor sweepers, grass trimmers, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and power tools.

Contents

The company is based in Worcester, Worcestershire.

History

Gtech was founded by Nick Grey, who had previously worked at vacuum cleaner brand VAX. [1] Working initially from his Worcestershire home, Nick Grey developed the world’s first cordless floor sweeper, the SW01 cordless floor sweeper, in 2002. [2] Since then Gtech have launched more floorcare products such as Multi, Pro and HyLite, as well as an eBike range, a garden range, and even an automated massage bed. [3] Gtech has also designed several products on a 'white-label' basis for other brands. [2]

In November 2012, Grey revealed that Gtech has been subject to several corporate espionage attempts from rival manufacturers. [4]

Following success in the UK and Europe, Gtech is expanding to the USA, with well-loved products such as the AirRAM available to purchase on Amazon.com.

Founder

Nick Grey (born 12 July 1968) is the British designer and inventor who founded Grey Technology. [5] Grey was born in Spetchley, Worcestershire, [6] and attended Aston Fields Middle School. The Grey family spent three years in Roscommon, Ireland, before resettling in Worcestershire in 1979. Grey studied at Ludlow College. [5] Grey and Gtech are based in Worcestershire.

Grey won the Insider Media Limited award for innovation in 2011. [7] He has been profiled by British newspapers, [8] [9] and has been interviewed in the UK press about issues facing start-ups and his own experiences with Gtech. [6] [2] [4] [10] [11]

Products

Media coverage and awards

Gtech's cordless vacuum, the AirRAM, has been reviewed in The Daily Telegraph , [10] The Sunday Times , [12] and Which? . [13] In addition, the Good Housekeeping Institute has approved the AirRAM, [14] [15] and the Gtech-designed Bissell Versus cordless vacuum was a winner in its 2009 VIP (Very Innovative Products) Awards. [16] [17]

Gtech won awards for Excellence in Innovation and Business of the Year at the 2013 Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. [18]

Gtech was awarded the Queen's Award for Innovation in 2015, [19] with the launch of the AirRAM MK2 cordless vacuum.

Gtech's AirRAM Platinum was awarded the T3 Platinum award, [20] and described as "probably the best upright cordless vac ever."

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vacuum cleaner</span> Device that sucks up dirt from a surface

A vacuum cleaner, also known simply as a vacuum, is a device that uses suction, and often agitation, in order to remove dirt and other debris from carpets and hard floors.

A power tool is a tool that is actuated by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labor used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used. Tools directly driven by animal power are not generally considered power tools. Power tools can produce large amounts of particulates, including ultrafine particles. Airborne particulate matter is a Group 1 carcinogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawn mower</span> Grass cutting device

A lawn mower is a device utilizing one or more revolving blades to cut a grass surface to an even height. The height of the cut grass may be fixed by the design of the mower but generally is adjustable by the operator, typically by a single master lever or by a mechanism on each of the machine's wheels. The blades may be powered by manual force, with wheels mechanically connected to the cutting blades so that the blades spin when the mower is pushed forward, or the machine may have a battery-powered or plug-in electric motor. The most common self-contained power source for lawn mowers is a small 4-stroke internal combustion engine. Smaller mowers often lack any form of self-propulsion, requiring human power to move over a surface; "walk-behind" mowers are self-propelled, requiring a human only to walk behind and guide them. Larger lawn mowers are usually either self-propelled "walk-behind" types or, more often, are "ride-on" mowers that the operator can sit on and control. A robotic lawn mower is designed to operate either entirely on its own or less commonly by an operator on a remote control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hoover Company</span> American home appliance company

The Hoover Company is a home appliance company founded in Ohio, United States, in 1915. It also established a major base in the United Kingdom; and, mostly in the 20th century, it dominated the electric vacuum cleaner industry, to the point where the Hoover brand name became synonymous with vacuum cleaners and vacuuming in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Hoover North America was once part of Maytag, but was sold by Maytag's new owners Whirlpool Corporation in 2007 to Hong Kong multinational manufacturing company Techtronic Industries for $107 million. Hoover International had already split from Hoover North America in 1993, and was acquired by Candy in 1995, which was acquired by Haier in 2019.

iRobot American technology company that produces consumer robots

iRobot Corporation is an American technology company that designs and builds consumer robots. It was founded in 1990 by three members of MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab, who designed robots for space exploration and military defense. The company's products include a range of autonomous home vacuum cleaners (Roomba), floor moppers, and other autonomous cleaning devices.

Robomow Manufacturer of robotic lawn mowers

Robomow is a manufacturer of robotic lawn mowers. Founded in Even Yehuda, Israel in 1995 by Udi Peless and Shai Abramson, the company provides robotic lawnmowers to the United States and Europe, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars/Euros. Robomow mowers are rechargeable. Robomow also comes with its own mobile application for remote and interactive control. The company has been mentioned in several magazines including: Design News, Business Wire, Washington Home and Garden and Vanity Fair. In May 2017, MTD Products Inc announced their intent to purchase Friendly Robotics. In July 2017, MTD Products announced the completion of the purchase of Robomow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dyson (company)</span> Singaporean multinational technology company

Dyson Limited, trading as Dyson, is a Singaporean based multinational technology company. Founded in 1991 by James Dyson in Malmesbury, England, the company designs and manufactures household appliances such as vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, hand dryers, bladeless fans, heaters, hair dryers, and lights. As of 2022, Dyson has more than 14,000 employees worldwide.

Johnson Electric (德昌電機控股有限公司) is a provider of motors, actuators, motion subsystems and related electro-mechanical components for automotive, industrial and medical applications. Johnson Electric has manufacturing facilities in 22 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiffer</span> Procter & Gamble household cleaning product

Swiffer is an American brand of cleaning products that is made by Procter & Gamble. Introduced in 1999, the brand uses the "razor-and-blades" business model, whereby the consumer purchases the handle assembly at a low price, but must continue to purchase replacement refills and pads over the lifespan of the product. Swiffer has become a half-billion dollar brand in fifteen countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flymo</span> Hover lawnmower brand

Flymo is a hover lawnmower invented by Karl Dahlman in 1964, after seeing Sir Christopher Cockerell's hovercraft. "Flymo" is a brand name of the Swedish company Husqvarna AB, a part of Electrolux from 1978 to 2006. The mower is a variation of the petrol-powered rotary push lawn mower, but uses a fan above the mower's spinning blades to allow the mower's body to hover over the lawn. The mower is claimed to be more manoeuvrable and easier to push than wheeled petrol mowers, while delivering similar results.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirt Devil</span> Brand name of floor care products

Dirt Devil is a brand name originally introduced in 1981 by the Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co, an American vacuum cleaner and floor care company. The company and the brand are now owned by TTI Floor Care North America, a subsidiary of Hong Kong based Techtronic Industries, who also own Oreck, Vax, and Hoover North America.

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Vax UK Ltd is a British based brand that manufactures electrical goods and cleaning products in the floor-care and air treatment sectors, and which has its headquarters in the United Kingdom. Since 1999 the brand has been owned by a company called TTI Co. Ltd Group, which is based in Hong Kong. Vax UK Ltd has its main headquarters and R&D centre located in the city centre of Birmingham, West Midlands and a service, warehouse and depot operation in the village of Hampton Lovett, near Droitwich, Worcestershire. Vax branded machines are manufactured in China. Vax employs over 400 staff across its Birmingham and Droitwich sites in the UK.

Ewbank is a brand of mechanical carpet sweepers sold in the United Kingdom since the 19th century. Originally owned by Entwisle and Kenyon Ltd, it is now owned by Earlex Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WORX</span> Brand of lawn and garden equipment

Worx, is a line of lawn and garden equipment and power tools owned and distributed by the Positec Tool Corporation, a manufacturing company based in Suzhou, China, with North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The brand is known primarily for its lawn and garden tools like trimmers, lawn mowers, and chainsaws. In North America, Worx products can be found at numerous major retailers including Lowe's, Walmart, The Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and Costco. The brand is also sold on other continents, such as in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Tool</span> American saw chain manufacturing company

Oregon Tool, Inc. is an American company that manufactures saw chain and other equipment for the forestry, agriculture, and construction industries. Based in Portland, Oregon, Oregon Tool globally manufactures their products in ten different plants across five countries. Oregon Tool produces and markets saw chain, chain saw bars and sprockets, battery operated lawn and garden equipment, lawn mower blades, string trimmer line, concrete cutting saws and chain, and agricultural cutting equipment for OEMs, dealers, and end-user markets. Oregon Tool employs approximately 3,300 people across the world in 17 global locations.

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Xiaomi Smart Home Products are products released by third-party manufacturers who have partnered with Xiaomi. These products are managed by Xiaomi Home app.

References

  1. "CEO Interview: Nick Grey, Gtech". Great British Life. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Hurley, James (11 October 2010). "Gtech is looking to solve the Chinese puzzle". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  3. Clareville Communications (8 October 2019). "Gtech inventor designs massage robot". Press Releases. Response Source. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 Wheatley, Catherine (18 November 2012). "Stop thief! Don't steal my ideas". The Sunday Times . Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2013.(Subscription required.)
  5. 1 2 "How I made it: Nick Grey, founder of Gtech". Sunday Times. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014.(Subscription required.)
  6. 1 2 Bridge, Rachel (16 January 2011). "How I made it: Nick Grey, founder of Gtech". The Sunday Times . Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2013.(Subscription required.)
  7. "Hard takes the top prize at 42 under 42s awards". Insider Media. 3 June 2011.
  8. "Incentives would 'boost start-ups with corporate talent'". The Daily Telegraph. 11 October 2011.
  9. "Stop thief! Don't steal my ideas". The Sunday Times. 18 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014.(Subscription required.)
  10. 1 2 "Battery-powered vacuum takes on rivals". The Daily Telegraph . 25 April 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  11. Hurley, James (11 October 2011). "Incentives would "boost start-ups with corporate talent"". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  12. Bingham, Matt (29 April 2012). "Vacuuming no longer sucks with the USB cleaner". The Sunday Times . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2013.(Subscription required.)
  13. "Which? AirRAM review". Which? . Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  14. "New vacuum phenomenon, Gtech AirRAM scoops Good Housekeeping endorsement". SourceWire. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  15. GHI Approved Products 2013
  16. "We're cleaning up America". Worcester News. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  17. 2009 First Annual VIP (Very Innovative Products) Awards: Versus Bare Floor Vacuum
  18. "Chamber Business Awards 2013". Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce website. 27 September 2013.
  19. "Gtech Joins The Business Elite As Winners Of A Queen's Award For Innovation". homes4media.
  20. "Gtech AirRAM Platinum review: probably the best upright cordless vac ever". 29 July 2022.