Our History
Xcell’s heritage is clear to see having grown out of J Sutton, the traditional oar and scull makers – and one of the leading suppliers to the rowing world for more than 20 years. Xcell works out of the same premises, allowing Suttons to concentrate on their core market as the specialist manufacturer of wooden oars and sculls for the traditional coastal gigs and flat water rowing skiffs.
Xcell was formed in 2001 as a sister company to Suttons, to develop high tech composite spoons and looms for competitive rowing, using modern materials and fluid dynamic design analysis, along with the very latest construction techniques from the aerospace industry. Xcell’s design aims are apparent; to produce high quality, yet affordable oars and sculls with improved tensile strength, at the same time lighter and with improved aero and hydrodynamic capability. In short, taking design and construction with the Xcell range into a more technological based era in rowing.
Xcell set about creating a range of their own product designs with all the tooling owned by Xcell and all looms, spoons and components manufactured for them in Britain. This provides oarsmen with a reassurance that every stage of the manufacturing process can be overseen by Xcell technicians, resulting in a superior overall standardised quality control. Continuous product development and customer feedback ensures that the range of Xcell oars and sculls best meet the demanding requirements of today’s competitive rowers whether for an ocean racing challenge or a flat-water regatta.
Both Xcell and J Sutton are based at Tom Jones Boatyard on the River Thames at Windsor and between the two companies they supply a complete range of oars and sculls across both competitive and leisure markets. Jerry Sutton remains a technical consultant to Suttons and Xcell and as the yard is located within 2 miles of Dorny Lake, the venue for the 2012 Olympic Rowing competition, the future looks extremely bright. Xcell is currently the only supplier producing looms with combinations of GRP, carbon fibre and Kevlar. An ongoing design commitment to be at the leading edge, the range of oars and sculls (X5 Elite, X1 Club and X3 Ocean), combined with the launch in 2010 of the X7 Coastal, all reinforce the fact that Xcell is rapidly becoming a major UK force with the aim of producing stronger, lighter more efficient oars and sculls for all types of rowing.
Xcell was formed in 2001 as a sister company to Suttons, to develop high tech composite spoons and looms for competitive rowing, using modern materials and fluid dynamic design analysis, along with the very latest construction techniques from the aerospace industry. Xcell’s design aims are apparent; to produce high quality, yet affordable oars and sculls with improved tensile strength, at the same time lighter and with improved aero and hydrodynamic capability. In short, taking design and construction with the Xcell range into a more technological based era in rowing.
Xcell set about creating a range of their own product designs with all the tooling owned by Xcell and all looms, spoons and components manufactured for them in Britain. This provides oarsmen with a reassurance that every stage of the manufacturing process can be overseen by Xcell technicians, resulting in a superior overall standardised quality control. Continuous product development and customer feedback ensures that the range of Xcell oars and sculls best meet the demanding requirements of today’s competitive rowers whether for an ocean racing challenge or a flat-water regatta.
Both Xcell and J Sutton are based at Tom Jones Boatyard on the River Thames at Windsor and between the two companies they supply a complete range of oars and sculls across both competitive and leisure markets. Jerry Sutton remains a technical consultant to Suttons and Xcell and as the yard is located within 2 miles of Dorny Lake, the venue for the 2012 Olympic Rowing competition, the future looks extremely bright. Xcell is currently the only supplier producing looms with combinations of GRP, carbon fibre and Kevlar. An ongoing design commitment to be at the leading edge, the range of oars and sculls (X5 Elite, X1 Club and X3 Ocean), combined with the launch in 2010 of the X7 Coastal, all reinforce the fact that Xcell is rapidly becoming a major UK force with the aim of producing stronger, lighter more efficient oars and sculls for all types of rowing.
Tom Jones Boatyard, Romney Lock, Riverside Walk, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6HU, UK | Tel: +44 (0)1753 833166 | Email: info@xcell.uk.com