Tuesday, 23 August 2016

AkzoNobel handles the heat with UK Fire Doors Ltd


Seizing an opportunity with both hands is akin to saving a penalty, or even laying down a bet on a certainty. However, it’s never easy to grasp the nettle without some trepidation, but when that chance to get ahead of the game presents itself then fortune does favour the brave.

It’s this very kind of situation that provided North Wales based UK Fire Doors Ltd. with an opportunity to further expand their manufacturing through door manufacturers Leaderflush Shapland who had previously been trading from their Langley Mill factory in Derbyshire up until the end of 2015.


Acquiring the now redundant premises would provide UK Fire Doors Ltd. with a unique opening to gild their expansion plans  with a ready-made plant and equipment. The early days of this expansion would see coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel playing a pivotal part, supplying both technical and product assistance to enable this growth period to happen   smoothly.

UK Fire Doors Ltd. design and manufacture bespoke, certified performance fire doors and pre-hung fire and acoustic door sets for the UK construction market, enhancing some of the most prestigious architectural developments in the country. 

The new factory in Langley Mill has the very latest up-to-date computer controlled manufacturing process which guarantees precision and compliance, enabling ultra-short lead times. Hand stitching and book matched veneers, hand finishing and individual inspection all ensure that fire and acoustic doors meet or exceed relevant certification and quality requirements. 


A choice of over 300 veneers make every door as unique and distinctive as the natural timbers that go into fire door production, enabling architects and designers to make them an integral part of any inspirational  development.

Over the last couple of years UK Fire Doors Ltd. began to stretch its capacity in Flintshire, North Wales, so Leaderflush Shapland ceasing to trade at the end of 2015 provided the prospect of exploiting growth opportunities by acquiring a new plant. A significant strategic investment in the Derbyshire site marks an intent to become the UK’s biggest commercial door and door set manufacturer over the next 3  years.

Tim Askew, Managing Director and owner of UK Fire Doors Ltd. commented: 
“The acquisition of the Langley Mill site allows us to fulfil our ambition of becoming UK market leader in the manufacture of performance door sets.  Furthermore, its central location reinforces  our position as a nationwide distributor”. 
“We intend to develop the site as a centre of excellence for the health and education sectors and I’m particularly pleased to be able to re-employ part of the former Leaderflush Shapland workforce, and hopefully contribute to the economic regeneration of the local  community”.
“AkzoNobel lacquers offer a greater degree of scratch resistance than alternative products and this better product composition has markedly improved colour consistency and grain infill on many veneers with the consequence of increased throughput on the UV line”.
Antony Catterick, Technical Sales Manager, AkzoNobel said:
“UK Fire Doors Ltd. started to produce doors in the East Midlands, utilising the equipment that came with the Langley Mill site. We helped to start up the production line with technical support supplying a range of UV lacquers. These are 100% solids UV curable clear sealers and top coats produced in Malmo, Sweden.
“For this work UK Fire Doors Ltd. selected UV Sealer 2495 and UV Top 25 4056. Both of these products provide very high quality and performance, together with offering a raft of superb benefits such as high clarity, fantastic grain filling properties and are exceptionally scuff and scratch resistant. These lead to a very good looking, enhanced appearance of the wood, providing an even surface and a very high-durability finish”.
Tim Askew in closing commented: 
“Central to our growth strategy is partnering with best-in-class suppliers who will underpin our commitment to innovation and quality, so it is no accident that AkzoNobel was one of the first companies we  approached”.

AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings Ltd WFA UK
Unit 4a Mercer Way
Shadsworth Business Park
Blackburn
Lancashire, BB1 2QZ

Tel: 01254 687950

Website: www.sikkens-wood-coatings.co.uk




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