The Minkon Fortafix Story
ENGINEERING
Brands – Minkon operations manager Stuart Smith and general manager Mark Sickling with the firm ’ s three brands .
The Minkon Fortafix Story
“ Oil and gas , the chemical industry , the airport , even the power station – we ’ re surrounded by the sorts of industries we can supply .”
At Hartlepool , around 40 per cent of the building is used for storage with the rest used to make and assemble Fortafix , Minkon and Texform products . To help forge those long overdue local links , the firm recently joined RTC North , which helps local companies contact each other and become part of the supply line in and around the North- East .
And , as well as top-quality products , Minkon Fortafix prides itself on its customer service for clients big and small .
Stuart said : “ Everything about us is genuine . We ’ re always helpful , even down to the single customer who wants to buy one tube of adhesive .”
Mark agrees , adding : “ It ’ s an ethos that runs throughout the company . We love when someone comes to us with a problem and we can help them out – it ’ s one of our core strengths .”
And one story in particular underlines how responsive they can be .
Everything about us is genuine . We ’ re always helpful , even down to the single customer who wants to buy one tube of adhesive .”
Mark smiled : “ We took a call from a Formula 1 team who said they had a problem with one of their cars at an event – which turned out to be the Spanish Grand Prix .
“ They ’ d found us online and said that without one of our products , their car couldn ’ t take its place in the event . It needed to be in Barcelona the next day , so I drove to the team ’ s base in Northampton and delivered the two tubes of fire-resistant adhesive they needed to fill a 3mm gap .
“ Next day , they won the race – and we like to think it ’ s because we went the extra mile for them that they won the drivers ’ championship that year .”
For Minkon Fortafix , however , the race is now on to forge more local links .
Mark said : “ We ’ ve successfully grown our operations nationally and internationally , but it ’ s a little bit frustrating to think that with everything going on in this area , we ’ re not really involved in it – and we should be .”
Stuart added : “ What ’ s going on around Teesside is very interesting . There ’ s a lot happening on our doorstep that we could help with .”
1908 :
It ’ s unknown how old the Fortafix brand is , but as far back as 1908 it was being branded as “ a cream-like liquid cement .”
1951 :
Fortafix is formed as a limited company in Bexhill-on-Sea to manufacture adhesives and cements .
1955 :
From its new home in Peterborough , owner Harry Froggatt employs engineers to develop the product range , including high-temperature adhesives and sealants .
1961 :
Woolworths is among the major players stocking Fortafix products – so you can buy them at the same time as your pic ‘ n ’ mix .
1991 :
Fortafix gets new owners and continues to develop new adhesives , paints , sealants and cements .
1997 :
The brand gets a new look and strapline – “ Strength in a Name ”.
2008 :
Fortafix is bought by Minkon – supplier of technical solutions for hightemperature industrial applications . Production moves to Hartlepool .
2014 :
Minkon buys the assets of AJB Taping and creates a range of heat shields , thermal blankets , gaskets and specialised textile products under the Texform brand .
2024 :
Continuing a tradition of at least 116 years of service and quality British manufacturing , Minkon Fortafix continues to aspire to grow its share in high-temperature technology markets , both in the UK and worldwide . The company focuses on delivering the highest quality solutions for hightemperature , fire-resistant and extreme environment applications .
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