The Locksmith Journal Sep/Oct 2019 - Issue 64 | Page 24

MLA EXPO PREVIEW M.Marcus & ‘Strength in diversity’ » » AT THE PREMISES OF architectural hardware and security specialists, M. Marcus Ltd, in Dudley, a diverse range of products can be found to suit todays architectural hardware solutions. The company’s commitment to ISEO is clear. Over the past five years it has expanded its ISEO Security department as well as developing a standalone sales and support offices for hardware, ISEO Security products and Heritage Electrical Accessories, as part of its strategy to provide support to its customers across its entire range. This was marked by the recent appointment of a new dedicated technical support executive, Veeru Harrad. He is the trouble shooter for Veeru Harrad the ISEO electronic security division and provides support and solutions advice to the company’s customer segments of ironmongers, locksmiths, architects and fabricators. Throughout the 70s and 80s, M. Marcus Ltd used its strengths in the manufacturing and distribution of heritage hardware and electrical accessories to grow the business. But, in 1996, the company formed a distribution partnership with family-run Italian manufacturer, ISEO, to introduce the ISEO security products brand to the UK, setting a new agenda for the company that would see it diversify and ultimately lead to the introduction of ISEO ZERO1 electronic security and access control range to its portfolio, giving M. Marcus a product offering that encompasses everything from the old to the new. M. Marcus Ltd was formed in 1940 in Ironmongers Row, London, selling cabinet handles and general ironmongery. In 1962, the company was purchased from the Marcus family by Mr. V. N. Karnani; whose sons, Mr. N. Karnani and Mr. P. Karnani, still own and run the company today. Originally, the business was run from an old brass foundry in Lye, West Midlands, where brass furniture was made exclusively for M. Marcus and would be shipped in from Europe and the sub- continent, then packaged and distributed around the UK. In the 80s, M. Marcus bought units in Dudley, previously belonging to an upholstery factory to house the company’s growing stock that was predominantly sold to house builders. In the early days of the business, as well as merchants and retail brassware, the company added Italian produced designer levers to its range, due to its customer base expanding to include ironmongers, specifiers, architects and interior designers. With the appetite for architectural hardware as a design feature continuing to increase, further investment in advanced manufacturing machinery has been made and all production is now concerned with high quality Neil Sheane-Smith hot forged decorative brass products across the range, leading to the recent addition of further finish choices (up to 9 finish options in some cases!). A specialised cylinder pinning department was formed, where M. Marcus could produce a full range of master key suites. In such a specialised industry, staff retention is essential to ensure a skilled and knowledgeable team, and the company has many longstanding members of staff, evidence of the family- run mentality that remains at the heart of its ethos today. The locks team in particular has since expanded to more than a dozen specialist individuals in recent years, with the lead time for master keying now at a 3-5-day turnaround (even on high security patent protected ranges), with next day service also, being an option, which has proven to be a huge selling point for the company. OVER 75 YEARS OF FAMILY MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION 1940 M.Marcus Ltd formed in Ironmongers Row London Selling Cabinet Handles and general ironmongery. 24 1962 M.Marcus Ltd purchased by Mr V.N.Karnani. 1975 M.Marcus Ltd grows and moves to new premises in Attwood Street Lye, West Midlands. 1978 Current Managing Director Mr Narendra Karnani (son of Mr V.N. Karnani) joins the business. Heritage Brass range of handles launched and door furniture and hardware range developed. 1982 Heritage Electrical Accessories launched. SEP/OCT 2019 locksmithjournal.co.uk Issue Takeover Magazine Sponsor