THE family-run firm of engineers Sartoris Products has earned a reputation for specialising in mild and stainless steel tubular fabrication.
Managing director Phil Mitford-Barberton passed away in 2013 and left the business to his widow Bonny Mitford-Barberton, who leads the family team of directors, Sarah Mitford-Barberton, Simon Mitford-Barberton and Tanya Wong.
The firm, which has a 14-strong team at its factory on the Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, has three sectors:
Sartoris Products manufactures steel products for the construction sector, flag manufacturers, the boot and shoe industry and carry chairs for evacuation. It is also a stockist of castors and wheels for supply to Northamptonshire industries.
Educational Aids manufactures storage equipment for schools and colleges and is a main supplier for one of the leading educational suppliers to primary and nursery schools, the TTS Group based in Nottingham. In 2013 Educational Aids won a Supplier of the Year award beating 400 other suppliers to TTS. Educational Aids is one of the few manufacturers still able to create a quality maypole to enable schools to continue with the tradition of maypole dancing.
BikerTidy manufactures quality storage solutions for motorcyclist and is the makers of the Universal Bike Stand, a front wheel stand for all size wheels.
History
Sartoris Products Ltd, founded on 4 July 4 1947 by Dennis Eady and Bernard Warne, first specialised in tubular steel fabrication.
It started life on the second floor above Whipple engineering in a building on Sartoris Road in Rushden. In 1951 the company moved to George Street, Irthlingborough, where they operated from two wooden buildings for the next 42 years. This land is now home to Whitworths, which during an expansion programme, bought the land and demolished the wooden buildings.
A factory fire in 1986, on Remembrance Day 11 November, when the paint shop was destroyed nearly put Sartoris out of business. When Bernard and Dennis retired, Dennis’s son Ged Eady became a director with Don Rawlins and Phil Mitford-Barberton. Sartoris also manufactured for a London-based company, also formed in 1947, by the name of Educational Aids (London) Ltd. This part of the business developed over the years, so much so that Sartoris Products bought the company in the early 1980s.
Milestone dates:
1980 – Sartoris joined forces with Baz Roll Products (now known as BIL group) as agents for the sale of castors and wheels.
1990 – A change from wet spraying to powder coating was a major step forward and transformed the product’s finished look.
1993 – A move, on 23 June, from Irthlingborough to current premises in Wellingborough.
This year also saw the office equipment taken into the computerised 90s and acquiring the first forklift truck. One of the Directors Phil Mitford-Barberton bought out the original owner’s son and became the 100 per cent shareholder and managing director.
1995 – Sartoris Products and Educational Aids obtained certification to BS EN ISO 9002:1994 a huge step in the quest for quality. The firm passed the new standard 9001:2015 in April this year.
1996 – The introduction of the manufacture of stainless steel products to its range, this involved new processes, namely TIG welding, drilling, cutting and polishing.
1997 – Sartoris obtained permission by the Medical Devices Agency to CE mark their products on 3 March.
1998 – Phil’s son Simon Mitford-Barberton joined the company and is now Operations Director)
2001 – Purchase of the bender machine transformed the business and is now being used on a daily basis.
2004 – Phil’s step-daughter Tanya Wong, joined the company and is now Marketing Director.
2007 – BikerTidy brand was launched.
2008 – Director Sarah Mitford-Barberton, Phil’s daughter, joined the company and is now Financial Director.
2013 – Managing Director Phil Mitford-Barberton passed away leaving the three children to run the business, overseen by his wife Bonny. Educational Aids won the TTS Group Supplier of the Year award.
Sartoris Products Ltd, Educational Aids and BikerTidy continue to go from strength to strength and have found many difficult years in the manufacturing industry. Brexit also has brought on new challenges however the firm is committed in spotting growth area and maximising potential.
The thriving BikerTidy brand, selling bespoke units for motorcyclists, is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2017.
Talks are currently under way to create a distributor global network for the brand starting in South Africa.
BikerTidy has grown year on year from an idea of the late Phil Mitford-Barberton, MD at the time who was looking for a unit to store his expensive bike kit. He soon realised there was a market for this product from motorcyclists looking to keep their kit all in one place rather than all over the house.
Director Tanya Wong, said: “Our units keep everything together tidy and prolongs the life of the leathers when stored well. The brand now has many variations of units to suit all needs.”
The team attend many motorcycle exhibitions including Motorcycle Live, a nine day show at the NEC Birmingham in November.
Sartoris welcomes enquiries from anyone needing the following services: tube cutting, CNC tube bending, welding, powder coating, or even castor and wheels.
Telephone: 01933 274323
Website: www.sartorisprod.co.uk