Technocover buys Strataform

Technocover, the UK leader in access and high security products for the utilities industries, has acquired Strataform, the specialist in physical security and access.

Technocover, the UK leader in access and high security products for the utilities industries, has acquired Strataform, the specialist in physical security and access.

Technocover has purchased assets including the complete portfolio of Strataform products and brands together with manufacturing rights and specialist production plant.

Strataform's factory in Kidderminster was not part of the deal.

Strataform went into receivership on May 11, 2006.

The company had ceased production and shed a workforce of around 30 at its Worcester Road factory prior to the sale.

Established for over 30 years, the Strataform range includes Sentinel 2000/4000 access covers, doors and cabinets for the water industry, accredited to LPCB security rating 4.

The portfolio was later diversified with the addition of physical security, fire, ballistic and bomb blast systems to LPCB security rating 5, including Sentinel 8000 doors, panels, kiosks, cells, guard posts and glazed screens.

Strategic The Strataform business adds a strategic counterpart to Technocover's current offering of high security solutions which includes the most extensive range of access covers, doors and buildings with LPCB security ratings 3 and 4.

Technocover's general manager, Michael Miles, said: "The Strataform range and customer base in the MOD, prison, hospital and other government sectors will complement our existing strengths in engineered security for the water, power, gas, telecommunications, transport and manufacturing industries".

The Technocover portfolio, featuring the market-leading brand, Ultrasecure, includes access covers, doors, cabinets, buildings and ancillary engineered steelwork for all areas of the water industry.

The company, based in Welshpool, Powys, has framework agreements with all but one of the UK's major water companies.

Other user sectors include fuel pipeline, power and telecommunications distribution, and industrial chemical production.

Capabilities Strataform will continue as a separate business, innovating high security products under the Sentinel brand to extend Technocover group capabilities as the leading provider of access and security solutions to all markets.

Sister company, TechnoRail, also based in Welshpool, specialises in high security access covers, cabinets, modular buildings and stagings for the rail industry.

The fourth business in the family is Jones of Oswestry, located in Oswestry, Shropshire.

Jones has been a premier provider for over forty years of lintels and landscaping products including access covers, drainage gratings, tree surrounds and disability access ramps.

Innovation Michael Miles said: "We will be offering continuity with existing customers for Strataform products and carrying forward the technical innovation and service support that have underpinned the longstanding success of the Strataform and Sentinel names." He added: "High levels of customer support and technical back-up are a feature of all companies in the Technocover family".

"Strataform customers will also benefit from our famous 'Total Service' approach and commitment to providing high quality products that meet customers' exact needs at lowest cost".

'Total Service' provides a complete package of support and technical partnering to the project team, from site surveys, risk assessment and consultation on security, to design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and, where required, life-long maintenance.

Relocated Production equipment from the Strataform factory is being relocated to Technocover's 75,000 sq/ft manufacturing headquarters in Welshpool.

Here it will join state-of-the art production lines, featuring the latest laser technology, run to strict ISO 9001: 2000 quality management procedures.

Together with production facilities at sister company, Jones of Oswestry, based in Shropshire, the Technocover group will have one of the most advanced steel fabrication and in-house post-galvanising/finishing operations in the country, totalling more than 200,000 sq/ft.

The Oswestry site operates an automated pre-treatment, hot dip post-galvanising and paint finishing line, capable of dipping and handling components up to 12m in length.

Technocover group products have the added value of DuragalvR long life protection.

DuragalvR post-galvanised coatings provide different levels of protection - 70 microns, 100 microns or 140 microns - giving a stated longevity of product in relation to local atmospheric corrosivity.

Back to top