How Hotchkiss is leading the way for ductwork and ventilation innovation and sustainability
As part of the Grob Group, Hotchkiss Ltd (Hotchkiss) is the UK’s leading air conditioning and ventilation contractor, operating primarily in London and the South of England. Established in 1885 by a father-and-son duo, Hotchkiss has retained its family values while growing to meet the industry’s evolving demands.
Headed up by Olivier Grob, Grob Group is a collective of three businesses within the ductwork & ventilation industry: Hotchkiss, Fire Protection Ltd (known as FPL), and LeFactory Ltd. Hotchkiss focuses on large scale projects where main contractors require full management ventilation packages, including management, planning, drawing, coordination, selection and procurement of the plant and equipment, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning.
FPL is a specialist in fire resistant ductwork and passive fire products and takes on larger mechanical ductwork packages. Lastly, LeFactory is the manufacturing division, providing rectangular, fire resistant, and galvanized ductwork for both Hotchkiss and Fire Protection. LeFactory is the manufacturing arm of the group providing both fire rated and galvanised ductwork to Grob Group companies but also on a supply only basis to the market.
“While Hotchkiss and FPL each have separate customer bases and carry out independent operations, there is great cohesion between the businesses,” begins David Baldock, Managing Director. “Hotchkiss provides fire resistant ductwork as part of its packaged works, while Fire Protection provides the technical know-how and fire compliance. As the manufacturing arm, LeFactory collaborates with both businesses to ensure manufacturing requirements are met, and all three businesses work closely by sharing knowledge.”
With a team of expert ventilation and ductwork engineers, Hotchkiss specialises in numerous ventilation services across a wide range of sectors. “As a group, we provide all services relating to the manufacture, drawing, coordination, BIM, project management, planning, programming, procurement, installation, and commissioning of ductwork and ventilation systems,” David elaborates. “Our projects range from under £1 million to more than £20 million, and we’re lucky enough to maintain longstanding relationships with designers, developers, and main contractors to support them in the early stages of design development.”
Green strategies
Grob Group has further diversified its capabilities in recent years by entering the commercial kitchen market. “With FPL, we have over 30 years of experience in passive fire protection and have been working in commercial kitchen environments for more than two decades,” David says. “We have developed an arm of the business to offer a full design, supply, installation, and maintenance package for all commercial kitchen needs. We now supply bespoke kitchens across the UK for all service sectors, with a list of clients ranging from Tier 1 contractors to national hospitality chains and airports.
“We’ve partnered with several high-end suppliers to offer an extensive list of equipment including kitchen canopies, lock systems, industrial cooking units, control panels, and heat recovery units to highlight a few. When it comes to installation, our team of specialist consultants and project managers work alongside world-leading suppliers of kitchen equipment to successfully deliver high-profile projects.
“As part of the package, we offer installation assurance and regular inspections from the third-party accredited FIRAS scheme, as well as on-site training for kitchen staff to ensure they can operate safely and efficiently,” he adds. “In addition, we offer a bespoke maintenance package when required and an optional all-in-one solution for ductwork, canopy, and fan cleaning maintenance. To ensure effective ongoing operations, our engineers strive to provide the best service possible even after we’ve completed our works.
“Although we are now more selective with our customer base to ensure we can provide the level of service we have come to be known for, we continue to work across several sectors including commercial, leisure, and residential. We have recently completed our work on the Peninsula Hotel on Grosvenor Place in London, as well as at Ruskin Square in Croydon.
“We’re also nearing completion of the Google KGX1 project after a four-year programme. The unique, 11-storey building comprises more than one million square feet of space to house Google employees alongside a swimming pool, running track, football pitches, and basketball courts. Specifically, our involvement saw us manage the full airside shell and core package of supplying, delivering, and installing all ductwork and full ventilation systems.”
Aside from projects, Hotchkiss has developed a series of green strategies to combat the climate crisis. “As a group, we are pioneering environmental sustainability in the UK’s ductwork industry, especially as the first company to procure low carbon steel,” David explains. “This steel is produced using renewable energy and recycled materials, leading to a 66 per cent reduction in material carbon.
“We’ve recently invested in the UK’s largest coil line production assembly, using steel coils and plasma cutters for both efficiency and waste reduction. This commitment extends to regular emissions testing, transitioning to HVO for deliveries, and achieving FORS accreditation. We also promote eco-friendly policies like electric-only company cars, free EV charging, diverting waste from landfill, and investments in digitalisation to create a paperless workplace.”
With this in mind, David adds: “We’re continuing to invest in sustainable practices to ensure that we continually reduce our carbon output and provide products that are as environmentally friendly as possible. We have a strong order book, including the recent commencement of the 1 Mayfair residential project, two major commercial developments, and the redevelopment of a prestigious London hotel.
“Our owner, Olivier Grob, established ‘Vision 2030’ when he purchased the business in 2021, which outlines the steps we will take in coming years to grow the business,” he concludes. “It aims to strengthen, improve, and expand the business both nationally and internationally, including diversification within the ventilation and passive fire protection industries and a commitment to environmental improvement in everything we do.”