Tusker Industrial Safety Company Profile
Safety First Manufacturing was formed in Ivybridge, Devon in May 1981 by Peter Ladkin and Mandy Thatcher. Over the years, the business has significantly expanded and the company has been based at its current premises in Plymouth since 2001. Mandy now takes the role of CEO and Emily Wright, who has been with the company since its move to Plymouth, holds the position of Managing Director.
Even in the early days, SFM produced a wide range of products, including kids’ protective smocks; aprons for the car industry; and canvas curtains. The welding protection side of the business really started to take-off, especially when they began to make frames to go with the canvas curtains.
SFM started stamping its trademark grey leather with its own brand (Hannibal Hides) and also launched ‘Red Tusker’ which was a heat resistant leather of a very high quality - far better than anything on the UK market.
The team has grown to over 30 and SFM has expanded into construction, roofing and leisure, although never forgetting that welding was - and is – a key cornerstone of the business. The company’s personalisation service has expanded too, with bespoke embroidery adding to Safety First’s impressive product line-up.
In this niche sector – as in the other parts of the business - the ability to deliver to specification (never forgetting high quality, keen prices and on-time) is of paramount importance. It’s no accident that the company’s mission statement is ‘Strength through Quality’, words that are an integral part of Safety First’s DNA and the TUSKER brand.
As welding protection is such a significant aspect of the business, the range of products in that sector is under constant development. There are currently 8 welding blankets stocked for a variety of uses and applications. They are Aluminised Glass Fabric, Heat Retention, Lightweight Spark/Glare, Neoprene Coated 660gms, Neoprene Coated 850gms, SIL+ High Temperature, and the famous Weldstop Plus range which includes Medium and Heavy Duty versions. The welding blankets are offered in a variety of sizes, generally 1mx1m, 2mx1m, 2mx2m, 3mx1m, 4mx1m or are alternatively available as 25m or 50m rolls.
Safety First Manufacturing has recently launched their e-commerce website, www.sfm-tusker.com, which is tantamount to the company's commitment to the industry to continue being the market leader. The launch of the website also saw new products being introduced, one of the most recent being the new fire barrier range: the Atex Membrane 5000TRL and PU28 Fire Barriers.
The PU28 Fire Barrier is glass fabric PU coated both sides and is most commonly used in the thatching and roofing industries, as a flexible alternative to rigid fire-board. The material provides Passive Fire Protection with a high temperature treated glass fabric coating on both sides and a silver/grey pigmented flame retardent polymer. Enhanced with mineral salts and vermiculite to increase performance and features a PU coating to suppress any irritant dusts. It has a 75 minute fire-resistance rating.
The PU28 Fire Barrier is available in 50m rolls in widths of 1.0m, 1.3m, 1.5m and 3.0m.
Something which has always been a top-seller in the company's construction range is scaffold sheeting. The Nylon reinforced polythene is available in a variety of sizes. Various other construction related products are offered including debris netting, safety flooring, anti-fatigue mats, bubble polythene, corri board, heat resistant paint, latex sheets, tarpaulin and more.
As well as selling online, many customers place orders by phone or fax and there is always someone available at the end of the phone to give expert advice and assistance. SFM pride themselves on providing an enviably high level of customer service to their clients, old and new.
Safety First Manufacturing has worldwide opportunities for a limited number of companies to become resellers of their products. Please download an application form or call us on +44 (0)1752 201000.
For more information about the company and the products and services offered please visit the website or click on the buttons above to send an enquiry.
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