Through investment and expansion, R Tindall Fabricators is growing its market-leading position in the fire protection sector
Based in Manchester, England, R Tindall Fabricators (R Tindall) is a market-leading supplier of bespoke prefabricated fire sprinkler pipe and mechanical pipework for the commercial fire and mechanical services industries across the UK and Europe. While the fire protection industry continues to grow with increased demand, R Tindall’s extensive capabilities and newly combined operations provide a service unlike any other.
By investing more than £2 million in its operations including world-class technology, semi-automated machinery, and even a new London facility, R Tindall has combined fabrication and distribution services to provide a one-stop shop for fire protection solutions. With a market presence dating more than 50 years, the company’s latest change comes under innovative leaders Joe Yearn, Managing Director, and Aaron Khan, Strategic and Operations Director, who join us to reflect on R Tindall’s continuous growth.
“Since our inception in 1969, we’ve grown to offer a full fabrication and distribution package across the UK and into Europe,” Joe begins. “We own a facility in the northwest of the country where we complete most of the fabrication and distribution, and we expanded this site to 45,000 square feet by purchasing an additional unit. We’ve also recently purchased a new site near London, which will open in May 2025, to complement our existing portfolio and support further expansion into Europe.
“The fire protection model in the UK has historically followed a pattern where fabricators look after manufacturing and several other companies are responsible for distributing the products. However, we spotted an opportunity to merge these two services, which we did around ten months ago, bringing numerous benefits to our customers. By offering both services, we can provide better transport efficiency and support customers in reducing their carbon footprints.”
People and culture
To enable this combined service, R Tindall has reinvested more than £2 million in its operations, including an additional manufacturing facility. “Around £900,000 was used for footholds to get our additional facilities up and running, but the rest of the investment was spent on new technologies,” Aaron explains. “We have recently made investment into our powder coating plant with various upgrades. These upgrades allow us to provide a higher quality application to our clients and the system is more environmentally friendly reducing our energy consumption.
“We’ve also invested in sustainability by adding new machinery that helps us easily recycle cardboard and plastic. Such investment is not only beneficial to the company, but also the local economy, as we’re actively employing more people and creating new jobs in the demographic of Manchester. In fact, we’ve grown from 40 employees to 82 employees over the last 12 months.”
On the topic of people, Aaron and Joe are keen to highlight how R Tindall looks after its employees. “We employ a varied demographic from school leavers to people who retire with us, including some people who’ve been here for more than 27 years,” they explain. “We recently appointed a new HSEQ Director along with a Continuous Improvement manager to aid the business growth and offer a world class service home and abroad. In addition to this we appointed Dwayne Nathan Jack as head of our People and Culture project.” Joe explains, “Early in 2025 the business began working with Dwayne Nathan Jack, a mastermind mentor, educator and trainer in human potential who specialises in people and culture along with personal development. He has established internal road maps to support our continued growth and develop hidden gems within our workforce.
Driving innovation
“When it comes to the environment, we’re making strides in sustainability. We’ve created a quality and data pack for our clients, sharing information about the materials used in our products, where they come from, and whether a material is recycled or recyclable. We operate a strict supply chain, and we’ve partnered with Green Economy to collect carbon data around each of our products and processes, and to find solutions that reduce embodied carbon.”
As our conversation continues, talk turns to the challenges facing the wider industry and how R Tindall is navigating them. “There is definitely increased demand for more effective and robust solutions, especially in a post-Grenfell era,” Joe shares. “The Grenfell tragedy has not only resulted in legislation changes but has also significantly raised awareness of the importance of fire protection. We’ve seen many pending applications for both commercial and residential properties that have since gone ahead with installation, for instance.
“The construction industry is generally looking for more reputable and professional suppliers, and we’re a trusted business with a robust supply chain that’s driving innovation. I’ve been in the industry since a young age, and as a company, we’re passionate about what we do, and we genuinely care about providing lifesaving equipment.”
Planned expansion
Aaron adds: “Although we continue to see volatility in the UK market and in the global arena, our supply chain home and abroad remains robust. We have full chain of custody on our product range and components used throughout our manufacturing process and have partnered with market leaders as part of our journey. “We like to be in control of our supply chain every step of the way, and we often visit suppliers to ensure they align with our goals and vision. At the end of 2024, for instance, Joe and I visited our pipe manufacturer in Dubai to witness the steel coil process from start to finish.”
Turning to the future, Aaron says: “We’re currently focused on getting the new London facility up and running, but people and culture will be our main focus for 2025. We have ambitious growth plans for the next five-to-ten years and we’re continuously investing in the business to support such growth, with a further £500,000 investment planned for the next 18 months. In May, we’re embarking on a two-year process with the Kaizen Institute. Although an expensive investment, we’re passionate about continuous improvement, and the institute will deep dive into every area of our business to find effective improvements.”
Joe and Aaron’s approach to leadership, reinvestment, and growth will undoubtedly ensure R Tindall continues to flourish. “Thinking further into the future, our vision is to become a world-class manufacturing business,” Joe concludes. “Our initial aim is to become the market leader in Europe as well as the UK, so we’re open to opportunities to grow throughout Europe. In the UK, our goals over the next five years are to occupy a 120,000-square-foot space and grow our turnover to around £30 million.”