A Black Country radiation business has been taken over by the next generation of the founding family.
Willenhall-based Raybloc was started by Sean Haydon and his father Leonard in 2000 and now creates radiation shielding products for hospitals, private practices, dentists and vets as well as for uses in the industrial, nuclear and military sectors.
The pair had worked in the industry as x-ray engineers for many years prior to venturing out on their own.
Sean, aged 60, is now retiring so sons Lewis, Clarke and Kristian have become equal shareholders in the company which started life in a garage and now employs more than 20 staff at an 8,000 sq ft premises.
The trio already have plenty of experience in the business having worked for it since they left school.
Eldest brother Lewis said: "The business has come on leaps and bounds since our dad and granddad first started up more than 20 years ago and I'm excited to see it grow even more in the next 20 years.
"My dad was ambitious and after working in the industry for a while he saw a gap in the market for something better.
"Alongside my grandad, he set up a mini production line in the garage in our family house and began making radiation x-ray screens for hospitals.
"It soon took off and they moved into a proper unit and started to employ staff."
Under the restructure of Raybloc, Clarke will oversee the day-to-day running of the business as managing director and Kristian will continue to work in the workshop in a more hands-on role.
Lewis will continue in his role as director and coach his management team to effectively run, grow and leverage the business.
Their younger brother Max, aged 19, is currently studying medical physics at the University of Nottingham.
The firm recently announced plans to demolish its current workshop and disused plant buildings to create a new bigger production unit as part of a company expansion plan which will create ten new full-time jobs.
Lewis added: "The difference between me and my brothers and my dad and grandad is they very much saw Willenhall and the Midlands, whereas we see the world.
"They wanted to create something that would look after the family and give us all a job but what they actually created was more of a legacy.
"Not only did they create jobs for the family but for dozens of families in the local area and we only see that going one way as we continue to grow over the next few years."
