The Dezac Group

The beautiful and peaceful setting of the Forest of Dean provides the inspiration for one of Britain’s fastest growing health and lifestyle equipment manufacturers.

The hi-tech office
The Dezac Group operates from a stunningly attractive purpose-built 7,900 sq m (85,000 sq ft) manufacturing and office complex that blends perfectly into the surrounding Forest of Dean landscape.

“The inspiration that this idyllic setting brings is, we hope, found in our products and appreciated by those who use them,” explains Dezac Group Managing Director Des Mills.

“Our company's philosophies of attention to detail, rethinking and questioning traditional methods and our strong eco-friendly stance have combined to produce a striking building with many innovative features.”

Des Mills explains that the company has invested heavily in making the new building as natural as possible. “The space we had for expansion was superb and we have been conscious to make something innovative and different from the norm,” explains the MD, one of the founder directors of the business, which first began manufacturing in 1996.

Environmentally friendly
Most unusual is the company’s commitment to the environment with a new building that incorporates a range of features. For example, The Dezac Group’s mould shop not only affords the company with manufacturing flexibility but provides winter heating for the warehouse as a by-product of the manufacturing process.

The roof incorporates automated control of ventilation, maximising the airflow in the summer and removing the need for air conditioning. It also contains large daylight panels minimising the use of artificial light. Even when artificial light is required it is automatically adjusted to maintain a preset ambient level. “The lighting system also uses movement sensors and timers to control the lighting in all the offices and rest areas and all our waste plastic, metal, cardboard and wood is recycled,” points out the MD.

Workforce
He is full of praise for the 100-strong workforce, which has embraced the ideals of the Rio brand and the company’s eco-ethics. “Labour availability is excellent in the Forest of Dean and every one is committed to making the area a success. We have also found that our efforts to build on the team approach to running the business have worked very well for us. We seek and are rewarded with continuous improvement in every aspect of the manufacturing process.”

The product range
The Dezac Group trades under the brand name of Rio and its innovative catalogue ranges from specialist body toning equipment and beauty massage products to aromatherapy treatment and oil vaporisers.

Evident in each product is the quality, performance and styling you would expect from a UK company which manufactures in this region of England.

Today, Rio products are found throughout Europe as well as Japan, America, Australia, South Africa and many other countries. Each product is assembled in the Forest of Dean and each owes more than a little to the inspiration found by the company in the surrounding countryside.