Family-owned Cardiff company TB Davies (Cardiff) Ltd has invested £2.2m in a new base for its fast-growing ladders and access equipment business.
The 70 year old firm – the largest independent ladder supplier in the UK – has purchased a 48,000 sq ft office and warehousing facility on a 3.5 acre site in Lewis Road in Cardiff Bay, where it will shortly be moving from its current premises in Penarth Road.
Managing director David Gray said: “Our turnover rose by 20 per cent to £6m last year and the new premises will give us the space to continue this growth path and to implement the expansion programme we have planned.”
Neil Francis of property consultant Knight Frank who handled the sale of behalf of the vendor commented: “The site was formerly occupied by Capital Coated Steel, which is a similar family-run business as TB Davies, and which expanded to new premises in Wattsville, Newport. With a lack of freehold opportunities in Cardiff for units of this size and site area there was enough interest received to conclude the sale via best bids.”
TB Davies (Cardiff) Ltd boasts a product range which extends to over 40 different varieties from ladders and loft ladders to podium steps and scaffold towers. The company also provides specific training courses for ladder, scaffold tower and work at height projects having recently also achieved accreditation as an approved PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ & Manufacturers’ Association) Training Provider.
David Gray said: “The new premises are perfect and will provide a legacy for my children and grandchildren in the years to come.”
Knight Frank is also handling the sale of the company’s Penarth Road site, which TB Davies has occupied for more than 40 years. The 0.6 acre site with 17,500 sq ft of offices and warehousing has only just been bought to the market and is already under offer to a local occupier with completion expected in September.