Access all areas: From roofs to floors the world’s leading speciality access manufacturers have got it covered!

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May 16, 2017

Following the recent acquisition of Howe Green by ERA, a subsidiary of Tyman Plc, the company is now part of the same group as Bilco.

Bilco joined Tyman Plc in June 2016, operating under the North American division - Amesbury Truth. Bilco is a long established horizontal access specialist with corporate headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1926 Bilco is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of speciality access products for the commercial and residential construction markets.

The company entered the UK market in 1989 with the setting up of Bilco UK & Europe in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. In the UK the primary focus is on supplying the commercial market with standard and bespoke access solutions including roof access hatches, ladders and smoke vents. In the US Bilco also serves the residential market with basement doors, egress window wells as well as roof access hatches.

In the UK and Ireland Tyman Plc operates as ERA. Founded in 1838 ERA are home security experts. The company has evolved from manufacturing locks to becoming a specialist in the design and manufacture of window and door hardware and home security alarm systems.

From April 2017 Howe Green and Bilco UK have become part of ERA. James Fisher, who has been the Managing Director of Bilco since October 2014, now takes on the additional role as Managing Director of Howe Green and reports directly into ERA.

James comments, “I am excited that Bilco UK and Howe Green are now a part of the ERA family. Our routes to market are different to ERA and we will operate as a standalone business however there are obvious benefits to being part of a much larger organisation.

The three companies have shared values and complimentary product ranges. They are well established, successful, ISO9001 accredited, manufacturing organisations that recognise the importance of innovation to drive new product development and customer satisfaction.

Whilst it is a diverse product range they satisfy the same need. The customer is looking for a dependable solution that will offer the safety, security and protection of people and assets. I believe we have an incredibly powerful proposition for the construction market here in the UK and for the international market, particularly the US. ”

Until the acquisition Howe Green Ltd was a family owned and run business. The company was started in 1983 to meet the demands of the supermarket sector for an easy and safe solution to accessing concealed services under Terrazzo flooring. The product range evolved to include floor, wall and ceiling access covers, hatches and panels and linear drainage. Howe Green access covers can be found in prestigious buildings all over the world, including the Oculus in New York and O’Hare International Airport.

James explains, “The Bilco and Howe Green products are often specified in the same projects - the markets we serve and the people we work with are the same. We are both talking to architects, specifiers, contractors and facilities managers. Being part of the same group means that we can offer those building service professionals an even better service.

Both companies invest heavily in research and development. Our customers can now benefit from us working in collaboration. Whether it’s a roof, ceiling, wall or floor - I think it is fair to say that when it comes to the speciality access market, for a tried and tested solution, we can provide solutions to access all areas.”

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