A Burton company celebrated its 25th anniversary in June 1987 and continued to grow.

Steel Fabrications Limited started life with just two men and an apprentice, but built itself into a multi-national company.

Back in 1962, Steel Fabrications (Burton on Trent) Ltd was just starting off as a small family business with big ideas and big dreams from chairman Geoffrey Prescott.

The business started life at the old Briggs factory in Moor Street but soon started to grow.

Speaking to the Burton Mail in 1987 as the company marked its 25th anniversary, Mr Prescott said: “No-one believes they’re going to make a million when they start.

In 1976, Steel Fabrications purchased a site in Derby Road, Stretton with the grand opening conducted by Burton’s MP Ivan Lawrence.
In 1976, Steel Fabrications purchased a site in Derby Road, Stretton with the grand opening conducted by Burton’s MP Ivan Lawrence.

Mr Prescott was also the head of four other companies including Thurco Engineering and Duslasst Metal Production.

He said: “It’s an ability to do a variety of work in different fields.

“Steelfabs make our own products, lease out premises and carry out contract work for other companies.

“When you set out you always strive to do your best – and if you’re successful you will grow.

“It’s a matter of raising your sights year by year and re-investing the profits, bearing in mind Mr Macawber’s one pound and sixpenny happiness, and above all, working hard.”

Late in 1967, Tony Vanes joined the business as general manager and in 1968 when staff numbers were in the mid 20s, he took over as managing director.

Mr Vanes’ first job was to negotiate the purchase of a site at Old Wetmore and in 1969, the company moved from Moor Street to purpose built workshops and offices.

Additional workshop space was then added to this site in 1971, 1972, and 1973.

In 1976, Steel Fabrications purchased a site in Derby Road, Stretton with the grand opening conducted by Burton’s MP Ivan Lawrence.

In 1978, the company purchased the factory and site of the former Orton and Spooner Ltd site at Victoria Crescent. This site is still referred to today as “Steelfabs Industrial Estate”.

By 1980, Steel Fabrications Burton on Trent Ltd – also known as “Steelfabs” – centred all of its production at the old Derby Road factory with the Old Wetmore factory leased to a large PLC.

A new office block was then added to the Derby Road site in 1985.

An advert for the firm which appeared in the Burton Mail.
An advert for the firm which appeared in the Burton Mail.

By the mid 1980s, Steelfabs was exporting to Bolivia, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan, Sudan, Russia and Yugoslavia.

Mr Prescott said: “During the mid-1970s, nearly 90 per cent of our production went to Nigeria. In the beginning we started by making small fabrications for the power stations which were being built.

“It was not long before we had machinery and skill to produce heavy fabrications and structural steelwork.

“We have completed many large contracts involving thousands of tonnes of steel.

“We manufactured the steel work for the new precision casting facility at Rolls-Royce in 1972 and designed and supplied the steelwork for a new cement plant at Ashaka in Nigeria.

“We have also made 32 oil cooler structures which were designed and fabricated at our Derby Road plant.

“But probably our most prestigious job was to design, manufacture and erect the satellite communications receiving tower on top of a skyscraper and I am told the combined structure is the tallest building in West Africa.

“At the same time we also made the steelwork for the hospital at Maidhigri in Nigeria and local men from Burton and Derby went out to carry out the erection and supervise the work.”

Another facet of the company in the 1970s and 1980s was to hire out its 10-tonne Coles crane plus the design and manufacture of attachments for forklift trucks.

The first of such inventions was the “Steelfabs Jib Arm” which enabled a forklift truck to be used as a crane.

This attachment was quickly followed by a forklift operated tipping skip.

Steel Fabrications Ltd celebrate its 25th anniversary by having a beer specially brewed.

Bottles of the beer plus cut glass was presented to guests and staff at a special dinner and dance at the Stanhope Arms in June 1987.

Ivan Lawrences, who opened the Derby Road factory in 1978, was invited as a guest of honour.