Newton Aycliffe-based shower designer and manufacturer Roman marked its 40th anniversary with a celebratory event with staff on 5th March 2025 – exactly 40 years to the day since it began trading on 5th March 1985.
All employees at the company’s headquarters in County Durham attended a presentation, which was followed by celebrations and cake for everyone.
In 1985, Roman initially started selling coloured bath screens to match the bath suites of the time. As the business evolved, the product range expanded to include shower enclosures and shower trays. Today, Roman operates from a state-of-the-art 400,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, producing shower enclosures, wetroom panels, and bath screens for all market sectors. The company also moulds solid surface anti-slip shower trays and basins in-house, alongside fabricating bespoke solid surface bathroom structures such as vanity tops for seamless integration with shower enclosures
Roman employs over 200 people across the UK, with additional operations overseas. Roman Asia was established in 2013 in Malaysia and is closely linked with the specification team. It is focused on hotel projects across the Asia Pacific market, while Roman Ireland launched in 2014 as a dedicated sales and distribution hub.
David Osborne, chief executive officer at Roman, pictured left, with son Matthew Osborne, right, said: “Celebrating our 40th anniversary is a proud milestone for everyone at Roman. What began in 1985 with selling coloured bath screens has evolved into Roman becoming the UK and Europe’s leading shower manufacturer – with our products now specified across the globe. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our entire team over the last four decades. As we look to the future, we remain committed to innovation, sustainability, and continuing to manufacture world-class products here in the UK.”
