was established in 1892 manufacturing bangles and metalwork for export markets. It commenced designing and manufacturing electrical equipment for hazardous areas in line with the advent of electricity networks in the 1920’s. In those days the company concentrated on equipment for underground applications, particularly coal mining. The products were designated flameproof for what is now known as Group 1 applications.
were developed through the second half of the 20th Century, Walsall designed and manufactured products to suit particularly for above ground applications in the fields of switch gear and motor control.
the company was renamed Walsall Ltd and began a new phase of development by widening the product range significantly. From inception to the present day Walsall products have become specified in all parts of the world. The name Walsall is synonymous with high quality electrical equipment and its products can be seen working everywhere where explosive hazards exist.
It is well known that Walsall products were built to last and the company is still called out to help with installations performing after more than 50 years. This philosophy of building the strongest and safest equipment runs right through the company’s operations.
All products are certified by the British Notified Bodies, Baseefa and SIRA, and the manufacturing facility is ISO9001:2000 approved plus ATEX / IECEX notification. Current certifications include ATEX, GOST & IECEX with more localised country certification in process.
Many of the manufacturing processes are vertically integrated within the Walsall plant. This gives the company complete control of quality at each stage of manufacturing and the facility to offer unbeatable levels of price & service. Customising products and systems is now a speciality of the operation.
Shell, BP, Chevron, Agip, Maersk Oil & Gas, Elf, NIGC, IOEC, NIOC, Pfizer, Glaxo, Petrobras, Woodside, ADNOC, GASCO, ZADCO, Saudi Aramco, Texaco, Aker-Kvaerner, Costain, Conoco Philips , ABB, KBR, Bechtel, PFD, Snamprogetti, Cegelec, Technip, Mustang Engineering, Petronas, Marathon Oil & Gas, Transco, BNFL, London Underground, Virgin, Ikea, British Sugar, BAE Systems, Airbus, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, Petrofac, Wood Group, Tyco, National Grid, Diageo………………………………………………………..
The company is privately owned by the Whorrod family who firmly believe in investing for the future. Multi-million pound investments have been made into the manufacturing facility and new product development. 2009 heralds the launch of many exciting and innovative new products. Middle East and Far East operations have been added to further enhance the group’s ability to customise and service the local marketplace both quickly and efficiently. Complemented by an ever expanding network of experienced affiliated companies, the Walsall product range is available on a worldwide basis.
The core objective of the company is to offer the very best customer service, the fastest turnaround of standard and bespoke products all at a very competitive price & all across a wide portfolio of products. Very high product quality is a given with most products in the range having been designed & built for longevity. A further key objective is to offer our customers state of the art enquiry / ordering facilities which I think you will agree, our website caters for superbly. Walsall Conduits was once the world leader in explosion protected electrical equipment, we are now building on our unique heritage & the company is now heading back to its former glory, a true success story for British manufacturing,
Walsall Time line |
|
1892 |
Established as a small private company in New Street, Walsall with a capital of £50 |
1900 |
Moved to Hatherton St, Walsall, manufacturing iron and brass castings. These castings included buckles and small parts for the Saddlery, Hardware, Cycle & Motor Trades. Other interesting items manufactured were iron and brass bangles for trading in Africa, tongs, can-openers etc |
1905 |
With the growth of electricity further products were introduced and an entirely new conduit system called “Grip Continuity” was patented. |
1913 |
Moved from Hatherton St to new works built by the company in Ablewell St, Walsall. |
1920 |
Acquired tube mill at Excelsior works, West Bromwich to produce furnace welded tube. |
1929 |
Complete organisation moved from Walsall to West Bromwich where new offices, assembly shops and foundry for the manufacture of brass, gray and malleable iron castings had been built. By this time the business was practically 100% electrical and about eight service branches had been established throughout the British Isles. |
1936 |
Became a public company with 750,000 ordinary shares at 4 shillings and 200,000 preference shares at £1 making a total capital of £350,000. |
1937 |
Further extensive machine and assembly shops were added for the production of medium and low voltage switch & fusegear. |
1947 |
Acquisition of factory in Stoke for the manufacture of porcelain products. |
1948 |
Complete up to date plant incorporated for the production of steel tube. |
1950 |
A further new extension was built to house the sheet metal fabrication department for the production of cable trunking and sheet metal fuse and distribution boards. |
1959 |
Various share issues since 1936 have increased share capital to £1,600,000. |
1968 |
Became part of the GEC group. A new company was formed to operate the manufacturing side of the business, leaving Walsall Conduits Ltd., as Electrical Wholesalers. |
1978 |
The two companies merged to operate as one unit under the name of Walsall Conduits Ltd. |
1990 |
With approximately 1060 employees, Walsall Conduits Ltd. Now has 45 service branches throughout the British Isles with a factory manufacturing “Walsall” products at West Bromwich. |
1995 |
Arena Lighting Ltd acquires the manufacturing business of Walsall Conduits and Edmundson Electrical acquires the wholesale network side. |
1995 |
The manufacturing business is divided into two separate businesses, Walsall Cable Management Ltd and Walsall Ex Ltd. |
1998 |
Walsall Ex Ltd acquires flameproof control panel manufacturers, All Seasons Martin Ltd (ASM). |
1999 |
Wiremold (US) inc. acquires Arena / Walsall Cable Management. Walsall Ex is renamed Walsall Ltd and relocated to Cornwallis Rd, West Bromwich under the ownership of the Whorrod family. |
2001 |
Walsall Ltd acquires the assets of Davis Derby Ltd, a manufacturer of flameproof lighting (Calstar). |
2002/3 |
Walsall Ltd is completely revamped, new plant, new products, new certification, new employees, new processes, new controls, new marketing etc |
2004 |
ATEX certification introduced across the board alongside new manufacturing facility in United Arab Emirates. |
2006 |
GOST R certification for Russia added. |
2008 |
IECEX certification for worldwide use added. |
| 2009 |
Walsall Ltd acquires portable lighting and military supplies specialist Smith & Prince Ltd. |
2009 |
Walsall aquired by Pepperl+Fuchs |