East Sussex rope-makers return as suppliers for America's Cup
Marlow, the world-leading British manufacturer of high-performance rope, has announced it is official supplier to British America’s Cup team competing in the 36th challenge of the America's Cup in New Zealand in 2021.
Marlow Ropes
The announcement by the Hailsham-based rope manufacturer marks the continuation of a thriving relationship with Ineos Team UK. Working with skipper and the boat designer, Sir Ben Ainslie and his technical crew, Marlow returns to supply rigging solutions for the 75-foot hydrofoil challenger.
The String Town
Marlow Rope’s history in world-class British rope manufacturing dates back over 200 years. In 1807, Thomas Burfield established his own rope-making factory in Hailsham at a time when wooden ships ruled the seas. Hailsham’s main industry grew in the 18th and 19th centuries to become the centre for manufacturing rope and twine. Not surprisingly, Hailsham became known as “The String Town”.
Today, the Marlow brand is renowned and respected in markets around the world from yachting ropes to military ropes and commercial mooring ropes to deep sea tethers for oil platforms. And, even to this day, Marlow still manufactures on the same site Burfield built over 200 years ago.
A sustainable focus
Marlow’s reputation for quality and innovation is as strong as ever. This year sees the launch of the first eco-conscious Blue Ocean Dockline range made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. A first in the industry, this eco-conscious Dockline is made from recycled yarn, whilst also being recyclable at the end of its life.
Sustainability is of great importance for both the UK rope manufacturer and INEOS Team UK, and both are pushing for greater change in the rope industry to drive their reuse, repurpose, recycle mission. As the company spokesman, Emma Donovan states:
“This year sees the launch of the first eco-conscious dockline range made from 100% plastic, and the company will be reporting sustainability KPIs for the first time.”
There’s a lot more to this East Sussex town
Hailsham is a vibrant and historic market town situated 7 miles (11 km) north of Eastbourne and 19 miles (31 km) south of Tunbridge Wells. Largely rural in character, Hailsham still has a strong agriculture and manufacturing base. Hailsham’s intriguing history as the centre of rope-making is largely present in the local community today. With Marlow continuing to fly the flag for East Sussex and the rest of the UK as a leading British manufacturer, Hailsham is on the map as a supplier of the most premium and high-performance rope across the globe.