About Us
Established in 1999 as Separation Filter Media, Craig Bannatyne designed and manufactured the first ever synthetic / hybrid zipper pipe bag and
water tube bottle trap. These products were marketed with RT Shepherd & Sons and sold as the Shepherd Hide Regulator Pipe Bag.
By early 2001 we were working on and developing our own range of accessories and pipe bags, including what
would become our top selling Bannatyne Hide Zipper Bag. Bruce Hitchings MBE BEM was engaged to market our range of products. So good
was the Bannatyne Hide Zipper Bag, it only took a short period of time to secure our first bulk customer McCallum
Bagpipes.
With the continuous support and commitment from McCallum Bagpipes the Bannatyne Hide Zipper Bag is maintaining the highest standard and
constantly growing in popularity within the piping world. It opened up a range of opportunities in the Moisture Control market, a
market that Bannatyne grew into and are proud to offer a complete range of products all manufactured at our premises including our latest
product releasing August 2008, the Bannatyne Canister.
Bannatyne Hide Zipper Pipe Bag
The Bannatyne Hide Zipper Pipe Bag became a reality in 2001, a pipe bag which consisted of a hide exterior and a synthetic interior. Often referred to as a hybrid pipe bag it combines the weight, feel and balance of a traditional hide bag but has the ease of setup and maintenance of a synthetic pipe bag.
This pipe bag is sold and played across the World by some of the top bands and soloists.
The pipe bag comes complete with your choice of either the Bannatyne Water Retention Sleeve or the Bannatyne Tube Bottle Trap included in the price. Our moisture control devices are designed to fit other synthetic pipe bags such as the Ross, Canmore® and Shepherd bags and can be purchased on their own for use in those bags.
In a few short years, the Bannatyne Hide Zipper Pipe Bag has quite simply become one of the most popular pipe bags in the market today.
There are numerous reasons why this is; here are what believe to be some of them:
Feels like a hide pipe bag
Choice of zippers for access to either the side or the bottom of the pipe bag
Includes choice of tried and tested moisture control systems
Available in 4 sizes as well as left and right handed options
Easy bag setup with no tie-in required
No seasoning required
Choice of champions
The Complete Piping Package
With the explosion in demand for the Bannatyne Hide Zipper Pipe Bag in recent years, our business has continued to grow. We now employ 12 people in our Whitburn based factory and have branched into Moisture Control systems, Refurbishments, Practice and Pipe Chanters and Reeds, as well as a complete selection of accessories for every player regardless of age and experience.
Today we continue to invest in our innovative products for the future and are proud to offer The Complete Piping Package including:
Hide and Synthetic Zipper Bags
Moisture Control Systems
Hand Crafted Quality Bagpipes
Plastic or Wooden Practice and Pipe Chanters
Practice, Chanter and Drone Reeds
Bagpipe Accessories
Bagpipe Refurbishments
Highly Experienced Staff
The responsibilities of all pipe bag and piping supplies production and testing is with three highly experienced individuals:
Proprietor Craig Bannatyne - Craig formed the company in 1999 having left WL Gore & Associates (UK) Ltd. During his time at Gore, Craig was responsible for the planning and development of the Canmore® Pipe Bag and was hugely influential in bringing the first ever synthetic bag to the marketplace with Gore.
The Bannatyne Pipe Bag venture started in 1999 by developing the first ever Hide Zipper Bag and water tube bottle trap. This product was marketed by RT Shepherd and Son and became known as the Shepherd Hide Regulator Bag.
Craig then moved into his own premises, designing his own range of Bannatyne pipe bags and moisture control devices. The revolutionary Bannatyne Hide Zipper Bag, a bag that right now is THE choice of synthetic pipe bags. The business and product range has continued to grow year on year and Bannatyne Pipe Bags and Piping Supplies now employs 12 people at its West Lothian premises.
Pipe Major Derek Marr - Master Craftsman - Derek is a highly qualified lathe turner and our master craftsman. Derek personally hand crafts every set of our bagpipes and chanters.
Derek is also responsible for all refurbishment parts and works with many of our customers, offering a personal service tailored to their individual needs whether they are looking to purchase a set of bagpipes or refurbish / enhance their existing bagpipes.
As well as making and refurbishing bagpipes, Derek is an extremely competent player who has spent most of his years playing for Grade 1 and Grade 2 pipe bands as well as competing on the solo scene.
Pipe Major Gordon Stafford - Gordon won his first World title in 1970 with Polkemmet Juveniles. He then progressed on to the Grade 1 Polkemmet band a few years before joining the Scots Guards. After his service was completed Gordon went back to Polkemmet under PM Jonny Barnes playing alongside players like Robert Mathieson and Jim Kilpatrick.
Gordon took over as PM of Torphichen along with LD Billy Stirling and in 1994 took the band up to Grade 1 where they stayed for several years before Gordon returned to Polkemmet for a few years.
Gordon rejoined Torphichen and Bathgate as Pipe Major in 2004 and in recent years has led the band to win several major championships, the most recent being the 2008 Scottish, British and Cowal Pipe Band Championships. Gordon led the band to RSPBA Grade 2 Champion of Champions and back into Grade 1 for the 2009 season.
Gordon oversees pipe bag production, as well as all reed and accessories. Every product leaving our premises is personally tested by Gordon
This pipe bag is sold and played across the World by some of the top bands and soloists.
