Celebrating 60 Years of Gradus: A Legacy Built on People, Expertise and Trust
In 2026, Gradus celebrates a remarkable milestone, 60 years of delivering high quality, durable and reliable contract interior products and services.
From our beginnings in 1966 as a flooring accessories specialist, to becoming an international provider of integrated interior solutions, our journey has always been shaped by one thing above all: our people.
Because, while products can be replicated, systems can be refined, and processes can be automated, true value comes from human effort.
Our people sit at the heart of everything we do at Gradus.
Contents:
- A Business Built on Solid Foundations
- The People Behind 60 Years of Progress
- Trusted by Generations of Customers
- Innovation That Keeps Us Moving Forward
- A Responsible and Sustainable Future
- Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter
- Thank You
A Business Built on Solid Foundations
Gradus was founded in 1966 with a focus on flooring accessories, a core part of our business that remains central today.
Over six decades, and from our long-established home in Macclesfield, Cheshire, we have grown into a trusted partner for customers and suppliers across the UK and international markets. Our headquarters and primary manufacturing operations remain rooted here, reinforcing our commitment not only to our customers, but to the local community that has supported us for generations.
Today, with over 250 employees, Gradus is recognised as a market-leading contract interior solutions provider.
We support a wide range of sectors including healthcare, education, retail and commercial office, offering solutions such as:
- Stair edgings and floor trims
- Barrier matting systems
- Wall protection
- Commercial carpets
- LED lighting systems
But behind every product we supply lies a chain of expertise:
- Designs shaped by real-world use and technical knowledge
- Materials selected with care and purpose
- Products manufactured with precision and attention to detail
- Orders processed, checked and managed by experienced teams
- Solutions packed, handled and delivered with reliability
What this means for customers: You’re not just specifying a product, you’re choosing something that has been carefully considered, made and delivered by people who take pride in what they do.
The People Behind 60 Years of Progress
While our product range has grown, one thing has remained constant, our success is built on the dedication, expertise and loyalty of our people.
This is especially evident in Macclesfield and the surrounding Cheshire area, where over 65% of our workforce live locally, highlighting how closely connected Gradus is to its community.
At Gradus, people don’t just work here, they build careers here. Many employees have progressed through the business into senior roles, bringing with them decades of knowledge and experience.
That experience is not short-term. In fact:
- Over 50% of employees have been with Gradus for more than 5 years
- 25% of employees have dedicated over 20 years to the business, further details of longevity can be found in our CSR Update.
It’s this continuity that shapes the quality of our work:
- Skilled designers who understand how spaces function
- Manufacturing teams who take pride in getting the detail right
- Customer service teams who solve problems, not just process orders
- Logistics teams ensuring every delivery meets expectations
This long service is more than a point of pride, it directly benefits our customers.
Customer reassurance: When you work with Gradus, you’re not dealing with a faceless supplier, you’re working with experienced people who understand your challenges and know how to solve them.
Trusted by Generations of Customers
Over 60 years, Gradus products and systems have been specified and installed in thousands of projects worldwide, in environments where performance and reliability truly matter.
That trust hasn’t been built by chance, it has been built through consistent human effort at every stage:
- Carefully maintaining product quality over decades – in 2024, only 0.13% of our products had manufacturing defects
- Delivering dependable service time and time again – in 2024, 99.7% of our deliveries were on time
- Supporting customers with real expertise, not automated responses – in 2024, we only received 0.54% customer complaints
Our longstanding relationships are rooted in something simple but powerful, people delivering for people. Our guiding aim has always been clear, to provide peace of mind through quality, performance and service you can rely on.
Innovation That Keeps Us Moving Forward
Gradus has never stood still. From our earliest flooring accessories to today’s integrated interior solutions, innovation has always been driven by insight, experience and collaboration. Innovation isn’t just about new ideas, it’s about understanding real-world challenges and improving how things are done.
This includes:
- Safer stair solutions developed to reduce slips and falls
- Advanced wall protection systems for demanding environments
- Continued improvements in durability and performance
- Sustainable material selection and product development
Our employees play a vital role in this process, sharing ideas, refining designs and improving how we deliver for customers.
Customer benefit: You gain solutions that are not just developed, but crafted through decades of experience, problem-solving and continuous improvement.
A Responsible and Sustainable Future
As we reflect on 60 years, we also recognise our responsibility to the future.
From our Macclesfield base, we continue to take measurable steps to reduce environmental impact and operate responsibly.
Recent achievements include:
- 41% reduction in gas usage across production sites
- 29% reduction in electricity consumption since 2019
- 27% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions vs 2019
- 100% renewable electricity usage across operations
Sustainability at Gradus isn’t simply about materials, it’s about the decisions people make every day across our business:
- Designing products to last longer and perform better
- Improving manufacturing processes to reduce environmental impact
- Supporting customers in creating more sustainable spaces
Our goal is clear, meet today’s needs without compromising the future.
Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter
Reaching 60 years is not just about looking back, it’s about looking ahead.
We will continue to invest in:
- People and skills
- Product innovation
- Customer support
Because while technology will continue to evolve, one thing will remain constant:
The value of things made by people, for people.
Gradus remains committed to the principles that have defined us since 1966:
- Quality
- Expertise
- Reliability
- Service
Thank You
This milestone would not be possible without the people who make Gradus what it is today, our employees, partners, suppliers and customers.
From our roots in Macclesfield, Cheshire, to the global markets we serve today, our story has always been built on people, community and shared purpose.
60 years on, our promise remains the same, to deliver solutions you can trust, shaped by human expertise and built on generations of experience.