We would like to introduce one of our newest members to the Made in Group, Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd. Welcome to the Made in Yorkshire!
Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd are the UK's largest manufacturer of welded wire mesh, they specialise in the mesh panels that are an integral part to secure fencing, providing to fencing system manufacturers and installers, steel stockholders, and fabricators. Chances are that you've seen, but may not have been aware, of their products being used around the country from high-security places including RAF bases and prisons to general fencing mesh around industrial sites.
Currently, the company is based on its site in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, where the company employs 53 people.
Started by Rowland Siddal in l898 in Sowerby Bridge, the company originally manufactured mattress springs, before moving into beds - supplying beds in field hospitals during World War 1) - tramcar and motor vehicle seating, with the automotive element being divested in the 1950s. Eventually, the company was split into two divisions – one specialising in hospital beds and equipment and the other in wire products, such as coat hangers, bucket and container handles, butchers’ hooks, wire ties, razor barb wire and furniture/upholstery springs. Following on from the split, Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd is the wire products side of the business.
Since the late 1980s, when the company moved into wire mesh production, the company has gradually divested its wire products operations and as of September 2019, the company are solely focused on welded wire mesh.
The company, which was was bought from the 4th generation Siddall family in November 2015 by partners Neil Stewardson and Ian Thurley. Whilst Neil has left, Ian has now moved into the role of Chief Executive, who when asked why he joined Made in Yorkshire said:
"We are passionate about manufacturing and proud Yorkshiremen (well, most of us are, some come from the ‘wrong’ side of the Pennines!). We are at an exciting and interesting dawn of a new chapter for the company as we seek to further improve our efficiency, develop our employment offering to make it fit for the 21st century and to attract the next generation in order to ensure the long term sustainability of the business. As such we are keen to learn how fellow manufacturers operate as we begin to shape our future. In the longer term we need to diversify the business and so are also beginning to consider what forms this could take and what new directions to move the company in."
Made in Yorkshire takes pride in championing UK manufacturing companies, and we are proud to have this new member with us that has such a long and varied history.