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Celebrating 70 plus years of Traka: ‘It’s a family affair
Dad Steve and sons Craig and Lee share their most memorable moments
This year, the Newell’s celebrate 73 years of working at Traka.
Dad Steve and sons Craig and Lee share their most memorable moments, and how chance and family persuasion brought them all into the world of Traka.
Summer of 1999
In the summer of 1999 Steve Newell found himself out of a job. The shoe factory in Northamptonshire, UK, at which he was employed as a Warehouse Manager, closed its gates. Having never been out of work before Steve needed a job, and that was fast.
"A friend mentioned John Kent that was running a company called Traka. At that time, there were only three employees and John needed additional help to fulfill a cabinet order from British Airways. It was a risk for me since the future of the business really depended on that deal. Despite having another job offer from a larger corporate company, I chose Traka because of the positive impression John made on me. I started in June 1999. We fulfilled the British Airways order, and by Christmas, the business began to flourish," says Steve.
“Being Traka’s fourth employee, more people were needed as the business started to grow. A month later Steve’s son Craig joined. At 16 years old he was looking for a summer job, to earn some money during his school breaks. He was employee number five.”
“I initially planned to study law at 6th form. I took a summer job at Traka for extra cash to help fund my passion for guitars. A few weeks into 6th form I realized law wasn’t for me and from the summer at Traka it ignited a new passion for technology. In October 1999 I was hired full-time and switched to studying electronic engineering while working at Traka under the mentorship of Duncan Winner, then our Technical Director” says Craig Newell.
A year later, his brother Lee also joined Traka to help out in between the school semesters. Apart from father and sons joining Traka there has been many family member coming through over the years.
“Many employees at Traka have come through from our family and friends, some are still here to this day. Even our mother worked for many years as a contractor for Traka, assembling the iFobs and receptor blocks for the key cabinets”, says Lee.
As the years passed, all three started to grow within their positions at Traka. Craig found new opportunities outside the UK borders.
“I briefly left Traka in 2007 to pursue a music career. Realizing that I was not destined to be the next Jimi Hendrix, I was welcomed back to Traka. In 2008, I got the opportunity to help establish Traka USA after winning a major Disney contract. I moved to Orlando full-time in 2009. After meeting my wife in 2011 and the ASSA ABLOY acquisition in April 2012, my roots were firmly planted here,” says Craig.
A few years later Lee would follow in his brother’s footsteps and move across the pond.
"I started off as a production technician, but over the years, I moved into a supervisor role before joining the R&D team. Around 2008 I started generating our mechanical engineering drawings and we formed a mechanical design team. I’ve been involved in the mechanical design of our products ever since. In 2022, I transitioned to a position as a locker engineer in the US”, says Lee.
They all remember those early years, when the employees had a broad range of responsibilities and weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and help where needed.
“As the company started to grow, we all contributed far beyond our designated roles. I recall many late nights, handling exhibitions, and assisting across various departments. There could be long hours sometimes to ensure everything was perfectly in place. But there was always a close knitted family spirit amongst the employees, something that I believe persists to this day”, says Steve.
Craig fills in:
“I remember one time driving 18 hours with Brian Davidson, my first hire in the USA, to install our first intelligent locker in Indianapolis. We rented a U-Haul to ensure safe delivery, avoiding shipping risks. The experience, including witnessing a tornado, highlighted our dedication to customer service and is core to our values today. There are countless stories like this from those early years that have contributed to who we are today.”
In 2012 ASSA ABLOY acquired Traka, which meant becoming part of a corporate giant.
"The acquisition was the best thing that could have happened. It opened incredible opportunities in the Americas and truly made the company international. If ASSA ABLOY hadn’t acquired us, we wouldn't have been able to grow as quickly as we have, especially in the Americas”, says Craig.
On the question of what makes Traka a great place to work they all agree that it is the values of the company.
“Traka has always valued its people, putting them at the heart of everything they do. This company has made me feel valued, offering flexibility that allowed us to grow. Both Craig and I have left the business to try to pursue a music career. Even when we left and then wanted to return, they welcomed us without hesitation”, says Lee.
On the question of what makes Traka a great place to work they all agree that it is the values of the company.
“Traka has always valued its people, putting them at the heart of everything they do. This company has made me feel valued, offering flexibility that allowed us to grow. Both Craig and I have left the business to try to pursue a music career. Even when we left and then wanted to return, they welcomed us without hesitation”, says Lee.
Craig also believes that the possibility to grow has been a contributing factor to their long stay.
“Working for Traka and ASSA ABLOY has provided me with countless opportunities. Starting on the shop floor, I never imagined being where I am today. The growth and change here, along with our incredible team, have kept me engaged for 25 years. I’ve benefited greatly from mentorship and leadership training, particularly from Danny Garrido, today President of Americas, and the SEED program, which have fostered both professional and personal growth,” says Craig.
And almost three decades on, there is still a spark in going into the office.
“I actually look forward to coming to work. I’ve had jobs in the past where it hasn’t been easy getting up and going into work, but in 25 years, it’s never been dull. You of course have good and bad days, but overall, going into the office is what I look forward to in the morning. Or, okay… perhaps the drive-through Costa coffee order is the best thing about every morning, then the office”, says Steve.
Fun fact:
“In 2004 and 2008, Traka won the ‘Queen’s Award for Enterprise’ for international business. It was a great recognition and a proud moment for the whole company. Traka founder John Kent and I got invited to Buckingham Palace and accept the prize directly from the Queen. It was back in the days when I still had hair”, says Steve.
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