8 FARM NEWS DEC / JAN 2021 • farmers-mart . co . uk
A Century of Agricultural Expertise
THE Witham Group is a family run business that is celebrating is 100th anniversary in 2021 . It started off with humble beginnings as the Witham Oil and Candle Company making bicycle oils , and candles by the Brayford Pool in Lincoln and using the river Witham to transport raw materials .
As the demand for machinery and industrialisation grew and transport evolved from horse and cart to vans , tractors and cars , so the business expanded . Its product range changed with the times to make lubricants and greases for agricultural engines and a wide variety of new machinery and equipment being installed in a whole range of industries .
Supporting Farmers for 100 Years
Supporting farmers and related agricultural industries has been at the heart of the business for many years . Witham ’ s heartland of East Anglia is known for its high food producing land and in turn , a whole variety of machinery and vehicles are used to work and harvest the crops , all needing lubricants to keep them turning . However , its not just in the East of England that Witham ’ s reputation and agricultural expertise is prevalent – They Group is now the preferred supplier to every major agricultural buying group in the UK and proud of its work with larger farms and agrilinked businesses throughout the whole of the UK .
The Witham Group are proud that its award-winning range of oils , greases , paints and workshop products is constantly developed to keep up with the latest technologies which help customers reduce emissions and improve fuel economy in tough operating conditions .
“ Oil is the life blood of machinery , says Nigel Bottom MD and 4th generation in the business . If you want to keep your machinery clean on the inside and protect them against wear and tear and rust prevention , its vital to use the right
Witham have been supplying the Agricultural Industry for 100 Years
specification and only quality lubricants . “
As well as manufacturing its own range of lubricants called Qualube , Witham is developing more environmental ranges such as Prolan , an impressive range made from sheep lanolin as an alternative to fossil fuel based products , yet with outstanding lubricating credentials . It ’ s also working on exciting new technologies , such as BlendTek , an innovation that uses ultrasound and solar energy to blend lubricants faster , reducing energy consumption and creating a carbon-neutral blending process which is currently unheard of elsewhere .
A Royal Stamp of Approval
In 1991 , Witham ’ s reputation for quality was cemented when it received the Royal Warrant , from Her Majesty the Queen , an official stamp of approval for goods and services supplied to the Royal household . Royal Warrant
Witham originally started in 1921 on the River Witham in Lincoln , making cycle oil and candles .
holders must demonstrate the highest standards of excellence , good service and management and environmental strategies .
As well as this , Nigel is a former president of the United Kingdom Lubricant Association ( UKLA ) and is the current chair of the Technical Committee within the Union of the European Lubricants Industry ( UEIL ), the trade association in Europe representing independent businesses in the lubricants industry .
Comprised of 600 lubricants companies across Europe , Witham ’ s association in the UEIL gives it the credibility to produce lubricants to the very highest technical
100 Years of Service & Trusted Deliveries
specifications . “ Together we are bigger than the major international global brands ,” says Nigel , “ and the UEIL gives us free and open access to technical information of new specifications from , for example , the automotive manufacturers .”
From Agriculture to Motorsport
Today , it ’ s not just the farming world that Witham supports , it also provides products to the haulage , plant and off road , horticulture , marine and automotive industries . And it ’ s developing a rapidly expanding motorsport division , “ Witham Motorsport ”, representing the UK ’ s top-flight motorsport scene as the official
Witham ’ s Lorry Fleet at their Lincolnshire Factory and Headquarters
importer and distributor of high-quality Motul automotive products .
As the company races towards it ’ s 100th anniversary , its forefathers ’ passion for quality products and people is still very much the driving force behind the company today . Asked to sum up what sets Witham ’ s lubricants and paints apart , MD Nigel says : “ We ’ re intrinsically linked to the quality end of the market and have been recognised for many years for doing the right thing , using the right materials for our customers , that are of the highest quality specification for OEM approval .”
For more information please visit www . withamgroup . co . uk