Firmac Ltd. was founded by Colin in 1985, along with brothers Lewis and Brian, as a sister company to Firth Sheet Metal and in response to the lack of high-quality duct manufacturing machinery available in the market. Frustrated by the lack of well-engineered machinery available to sheet metal workers, Colin designed the first Nu-Loc duct seamer and ADF, Automatic Duct Former, revolutionising the industry and providing the foundations for international expansion. The original Firmac factory was situated on Durham Street in Scarborough, but after only five years the business had expanded so much larger premises became an urgent requirement.
In 1990 the two businesses, Firth Sheet Metal and Firmac successfully bid for the largest unit, 24,000 ft², on the Barry’s Lane Industrial Estate and the two companies finally shared the same address.
The nine strong workforce had expanded to 50 employees and by 2009 the business moved to its current premises, 30,000 ft² purpose built accommodation at Elge House on the Eastfield Industrial Estate.
Since its launch in 1985 the company has gone from strength to strength. It now commands a leading position in the international marketplace and is recognised as a forerunner in design and innovation. Combining the strengths of a professional internal design department with experienced electrical and mechanical engineering the company now exports 95% of its business to over 50 countries worldwide.
Firth Sheet Metal Ltd.
Firth Sheet Metal is a family-owned business which was established in 1964 by time served sheet metal workers George Firth and son Colin. Initially offering general metal work services and repairs, father and son worked in an outbuilding on a garage forecourt in Friday Thorpe in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The business grew and after the first winter relocated to Chapman’s Yard in Scarborough. Perhaps not the ideal location as the workshop was on the upper level of the building so any large or heavy objects had to be placed on a hoist and lifted into the workshop.
By 1967 the business had moved again to Silver Street in Scarborough and employed its first two apprentices. Following in their father’s footsteps, 20 years later, two sons of one of the original apprentices were employed as sheet metalwork apprentices. Employing and training engineering apprentices remains central to the business and several apprentices are recruited every year to the Firth Firmac Group.
Founder, George Firth retired from the business in 1969 and a year later the business which continued to grow relocated to Barry’s Lane.
The business was by now undertaking large contract work and attributes much of its success to Trevor Hartley who joined the business in 1975 and brought experience of working on larger projects in the West Riding. He was with the firm when the business experienced considerable expansion from 1975 through to the millennium until his retirement.
The business, now situated in a purpose built factory on the Eastfield Industrial Estate, is unrecognisable from the two man business based in a workshop on a garage forecourt in Friday Thorpe. Now boasting a client list that includes leading supermarket chains, international retailers, building contractors and mechanical engineering services the company continues to install “small works” for many of the hotels, restaurants and bars, holiday parks and campsites in the area, Firth Sheet Metal is seen as the leading sheet metal fabricator and ductwork business on the Yorkshire Coast.
Firmac Engineering Services Ltd.
Firmac Engineering Services provides comprehensive mechanical design and building services to the retail and commercial sector. Bringing together competent personnel we provide a complete end-to-end service, from design and commissioning through to installation and on-going support.
Delivering first class projects for high-end retailers including ASDA, Aldi, Sainsbury’s , John Lewis, Lidl and Tesco our customers show their confidence and satisfaction by placing repeat work.
The Firth Firmac Group
Both Firth Sheet Metal and Firmac remain wholly family owned. Brian Firth took early retirement from Firmac in 1993 while Lewis and Colin continued to expand the business, developing new products and reaching new global markets.
Firmac in the Middle East
Firmac Ltd., a UK registered company, is a specialist manufacturer of automatic duct forming machinery and ancillary equipment, and is solely represented in the U.A.E., Middle East and India by Mr. SRK Sameer Kohli and his company Dusark International FZE.
We are no way connected to, or represented by, Firmac Industries LLC Dubai, or its management.
Firmac Industries LLC, Dubai, operates as ductwork manufacturers. We at Firmac Ltd. would like to make it clear that we have no intention of being involved in the manufacture, supply or sale of ductwork, as we are exclusively machinery and equipment manufacturers.
We have spent many years developing and maintaining close working relationships with our valued customers and therefore would appreciate being informed of any confusion which exists between the Firmac Ltd. name and any other trading entity with a similar name. We would also appreciate being informed of any suggestion that we have any connection with Firmac Industries LLC and its management or indeed any other company using the Firmac name. We would at this point like to make it clear that we have not been made aware of any suggestions that Firmac Industries LLC, Dubai, represents, or is connected to, Firmac Ltd. in any way.
