Fairgrieve Compression Moulding Recognised with the Made in North East Award

Fairgrieve Compression Moulding has been recognised at a prestigious awards event for the positive impact it has on manufacturing in the North East. The awards ‘celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, technology and creativity and honour brilliant people going the extra mile for their customers and clients’, shining a light on the fantastic things businesses are doing to make a difference across the North East.

The business was named winner of the ‘Made in the North East’ Award at the 2024 North East Business Awards – the second year in succession the team has walked away as major winners at the glittering event.

Once again, Fairgrieve had already been crowned winners in the regional category for the Northumberland & Tyneside, Durham, Sunderland & South Tyneside and Teesside, and went on to collect the overall North East Award in the category on the awards night itself. Last year the company also won both the regional and overall North East prizes in the Small Business of the Year category, Managing Director Barry Davidson hailed the impact not only of his current team but also of those from days gone by, for their impact in the region.

Fairgrieve Compression Moulding Managing Director, Barry Davidson said, “To be awarded four awards in two years, at both regional level and across the whole North East, is absolutely fantastic and reflects so well on where we are as a business today.”

“But I think this latest award also reflects on Fairgrieves’ special place in the manufacturing story of the North East, and the longstanding and positive impact and contribution the business has made to the region,” he said.

“This recognition of how our business has, for more than 100 years, been a fantastic ambassador for manufacturing in the North East to a worldwide market, and of course continues to be so today.”

With more than 100 years of experience to the company’s name, Fairgrieves boasts plastic compression moulding knowledge that is second to none, with major companies and brands relying on the expertise and product development skills of the Fairgrieves team.

Proud history

Fairgrieves was formed by two local brothers in 1913 who travelled to the United States and learned about the production of Bakelite plastic, introducing it to the UK in 1918.

It proved a major breakthrough for the plastics manufacturing industry in this country, as Bakelite became used in almost every manufactured product that required thermal properties, strength and rigidity, and is still used in many applications today.

Such is the importance of that achievement by the business, Fairgrieves’ former home at 201 High Street East in Sunderland was purchased by the North East Civic Trust because of its historical significance to the area.

“Today, we’re the only compression moulding specialist in the North of England and one of only a dozen or so still existing in the UK, but we continue to thrive, win new contracts, and innovate with new product development,” said Mr Davidson.

One such product which has proved a huge success this year is the Matrix Firewall Bracket Base, which has secured orders in the many thousands from the construction industry and also won recognition at other, national awards events, including the 2024 Make UK Awards and the 2024 Engineering and Manufacturing Awards (EMA).

Used in the assembly of firewalls – a fire-resistant barrier designed to prevent the spread of fire between different parts of a building – they help contain heat and slow down the spread of fire outbreaks.

As compression moulded materials with high fire resistance can withstand high temperatures and maintain their structural integrity, even under intense heat conditions, Fairgrieves was able to develop a firewall base bracket which outperforms those commonly used in the construction industry.

Mr Davidson added: “It’s amazing the amount of recognition we’ve had over the past 12 months for this little product, but it is one we are super proud of, both in terms of the quality of innovation and expertise used to develop and manufacture it, but also because it is a product which is playing a positive role in society and helping improve the fire safety of buildings. It’s a little product making a huge impact.”

Read more from Fairgrieve Compression Moulding here.

Fairgrieve Compression Moulding
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