Kirkpatrick scoops manufacturing award
Historic firm Kirkpatrick Ltd has been named the second winner of the Express & Star's Manufacturing Awards.
Historic firm Kirkpatrick Ltd has been named the second winner of the Express & Star's Manufacturing Awards.
The award, sponsored by the Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands is bestowed on firms that are a model of excellence in industry across our region.
The company has been manufacturing high-quality malleable iron castings ever since its inception in 1855.
The Scots of the West Midlands may have been small in number, but they played a great part in the forging of this region into the Workshop of the World. James Watt, the brilliant Scottish scientist and thinker, devised the wonderful steam engines produced at the Soho Foundry in Smethwick that were so vital in powering Britain to industrial supremacy. And James Keir, a man of keen intellect, pioneered experiments with alkali and operated the first soap manufactory in the world at Bloomfield, Tipton.
William Kirkpatrick founded Kirkpatrick Ltd, making its motto "I mak siccar". This phrase in the dialect of the Lowland Scots emphasised William's pride in his ancestry.
The film Braveheart focused on the life and death of William Wallace, a Scottish hero who fought valiantly against the invading forces of Edward I of England. It is said that his final defeat at Falkirk in 1298, which led to his execution, was caused by the defection to the English of men led by John Comyn, Earl of Badenoch, who wanted to become King of Scotland. Later, at a meeting of Scottish notables at a monastery in Dumfries, Comyn quarrelled with Robert the Bruce, who had supported Wallace. Robert stabbed his enemy and then ran outside shouting to his escort "I doubt (think) I have slain Comyn."
Calling out "I mak siccar" ("I'll make certain") Sir Roger Kirkpatrick, a cousin of Robert the Bruce, then ran into the building. Finding Comyn wounded and not dead, Kirkpatrick stabbed him in the heart and killed him. Robert the Bruce went on to be crowned King of Scotland, whilst much later in 1685 a descendant of Sir Roger would become the Baronet Kirkpatrick of Closeburn in the County of Dumfries for "his unswerving Loyalty to the Royal House of Stuart".
William Kirkpatrick was descended from a junior branch of the third baronet's line and he became not only a leading manufacturer in Walsall but also a prominent citizen. A JP, he was mayor in 1887, Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year
Vincent Kirkpatrick succeeded William in the business and presided over its incorporation as a limited company in 1901. He was keen to reward loyal and long-serving employees and gave them a shareholding.
Many of their descendents retain their interest in the company, as do members of the Kirkpatrick family.
Kirkpatrick Ltd manufactured all kinds of harness and saddle room fittings, but from its beginnings its main focus of activity has been malleable iron. Compared to cast iron, malleable iron is annealed in an extra heating process that gives it elasticity and makes it stronger and less brittle under tension. These qualities make it ideal for thin, moving items such as hinges and gate latches.
Crucially, like all successful manufacturers, the management of Kirkpatrick has realised the importance of cherishing traditional techniques whilst embracing modern technology and adapting to changes in the market. This awareness became most acute in the later part of the 20th century, as manufacturing in Britain and the West Midlands in particular was beset by a storm of negative factors that destroyed many large and small firms.
Kirkpatrick Ltd weathered that storm by slowly yet surely moving away from the traditional jobbing nature of a foundry towards a concentration on its own range of high quality decorative and builder's ironmongery. This has meant that whilst the company still makes many products which are essentially the same as those advertised in later 19th century catalogues such goods have been adapted and developed to meet the demands of the 21st century.
A prime example of this successful melding of the traditional with the modern is in the field of home security, something that is of the highest importance to householders and insurers. By talking to its customers, Kirkpatrick has been able to adapt long-established products to make them lockable. Similarly, other products have been adapted to make them suitable not only for traditional timber windows but also for UPVC windows, thus opening up a new market.
Such adaptability has been reflected in the development of new finishes to offer an increased choice.
Another key factor in the ongoing success of Kirkpatrick Ltd is in its readiness to embraced legislation so that it becomes part of every decision made by the firm. This has led to a heavy investment in re-roofing the factory over the last ten years to make it lighter, and more airy. With computer controlled heating, this has cut energy bills.
Such an environmentally friendly approach has been enhanced by a modern electric induction furnace and extraction plant. These have enabled Kirkpatrick Ltd to produce a more consistent, higher quality iron and to re-use all the scrap produced. It has also meant that the company stays well within Government emission guidelines, making its products value both for money and the environment.
