100 years of sliding and folding door hardware from P C Henderson

Founded by Percy Cecil Henderson, on Feb. 24, 1921, the company has come a long way since its humble beginnings, when it began in an unused attic space of a paint and varnish factory. 100 years on and the company has offices in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and China, exports to more than 70 countries around the world and is firmly positioned as the premier supplier of sliding door hardware.

Trevor Cossins, Managing Director at P C Henderson, said of the companies' continued success, "Celebrating a centennial in business is a huge achievement, it places us among a rare group of companies that have truly stood the test of time and that is something that does not happen by accident ".

For the past 52 years, the company has operated out of its 2.9-acre plant in Bowburn. The company shows no signs of slowing down and in the past 3 years alone has achieved record sales, won multiple awards and some of the most successful product launches in its history.

"In the late 1920s, Percy Cecil Henderson established the export side of the business and developed strong relationships in South Africa, New Zealand and China - regions where we still have a strong presence. I believe this bold move has been a huge factor in the longevity and success of the company over the years."

P C Henderson has won several awards for its export achievements, most notably 'UK Export Business of the Year' at the British Chamber Awards - a highly prestigious and respected award. Exports currently account for 70% of the company's annual turnover with products reaching all corners of the globe.

"Our expertise and dedicated team have contributed greatly over the years. We have a great team of highly skilled and passionate individuals - almost 60% of our team members have been with the company for more than 10 years and 30% for more than 20 years."

Product innovation is high on the company's agenda - with a market-leading range of more than 60 sliding door products weighing as much as 8,000 kg. The products can be seen in a number of high-profile applications around the world, including Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan, Amphia Hospital in the Netherlands, Disneyland Shanghai and the Four Seasons Hotel in Tianjin, China.

"Our products are known for being built to last. We still receive requests for restoration projects installed in the 1950s and 1960s. This has firmly positioned us as the supplier of sliding and folding door hardware - customers come to us because they know the product will stand the test of time ", continues Trevor.

The company is entering its second century with ambitious growth plans - including a number of major product launches and expansion plans for U.S. markets. Progress with digital innovation is on the company's agenda and, above all, continuing to ensure that product innovation meets the ever-changing ways in which sliding and folding doors are used in all applications around the world.