Geofire relocates production to Bangalore facility

by Featured NewsPassiveSafety

Geofire expands fire safety product manufacturing to Bangalore

Geofire has announced the relocation of the manufacturing of several key fire safety products to its British Engines Group facility in Bangalore, India.

The products that will now be produced at the SG India facility include the Type 87 Doormouse, Type 59 Conquest, and the Agrippa acoustic fire door holder.

This strategic move aims to leverage the identical CNC capability and cutting tool technology of the 7,000 square feet Indian facility, ensuring rigorous quality control measures comparable to those in the UK.

Both the UK and Indian facilities have been audited and approved by Bureau Veritas for ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO45001 standards and Warrington Fire for the EN1155 FPC.

All products will also carry the CE mark specific to the SG India manufacturing facility.

Details of relocated product manufacturing

Geofire’s Type 87 Doormouse is a door holder designed to prevent doors from slamming shut during fire incidents, facilitating safe evacuation by holding doors open securely.

The Type 59 Conquest fire door holder combines functionality with aesthetics, providing reliable fire door control while maintaining an unobtrusive appearance.

The Agrippa acoustic fire door holder uses innovative technology to hold fire doors open legally and safely.

These products will be manufactured in the new Bangalore facility, ensuring consistency in quality and adherence to international standards.

Commitment to transparency and compliance

In the coming months, Geofire will adapt the labelling requirements to reflect the change in the Country-of-Origin.

This adjustment aims to ensure transparency and compliance with regulatory standards.

The SG India facility’s adoption of the same technology and quality control measures as the UK facility underscores Geofire’s commitment to maintaining high-quality standards across its global operations.

Enhancing global presence through strategic relocation

Geofire’s expansion to India not only bolsters its global presence but also demonstrates its dedication to delivering reliable fire safety solutions worldwide.

The new facility is expected to play a significant role in the company’s ongoing success.

IFSJ comment

Geofire’s strategic decision to relocate part of its production to Bangalore is a noteworthy development in the fire safety industry.

This move aligns with the broader trend of companies leveraging global facilities to enhance their operational efficiency and maintain consistent product quality.

The identical technological capabilities and quality control measures in the Indian facility ensure that the fire safety products manufactured there will meet the same standards as those produced in the UK.

This is particularly important for products like the Type 87 Doormouse and the Agrippa acoustic fire door holder, which play crucial roles in ensuring safety during fire incidents.

Geofire celebrates 50th anniversary

by Featured NewsFire DoorsProducts

Fire door holder and closer manufacturer Geofire has marked a significant milestone with the celebration of 50 years in business showing its commitment to innovation in the fire safety industry.

Originally established as an electromagnetic brake and clutch manufacturer in the north east of England in 1972, the company has grown significantly into a leading specialist in electromagnetic fire door safety solutions and its products are exported globally.

In 2013, the company moved to a purpose built manufacturing facility in County Durham, to meet the existing and future capacity demands of the business and ensure the capability for small or large volume orders.

Keith Thompson, Production Scheduler at Geofire, and the company’s longest serving employee, said that the business has changed massively since he started 39 years ago: “We were originally a team of 10 with two central lathes and only one CNC lath machine! I love being part of a larger team that achieves and exceeds. I have seen the company continually improve standards of manufacturing to supply some of the world’s leading projects. We receive new enquiries from global equipment manufacturers every day.”

Andy Collinson, CEO, Geofire added: “It’s the people, our processes and the continuous innovation that make this company, and we are delighted to be marking half a century of engineering expertise.  We have a wealth of experience and product knowledge coupled with investments in our in-house manufacturing facility and workforce to execute our progression. I am confident that with the support of our management team and the British Engines Group, we will continue to flourish.”

Geofire: How can holding open doors prevent the spread of COVID-19?

by Passive

Reducing the spread of germs and bacteria has never been more essential in the current climate. Holding open internal doors provides an easy and effective method of infection control within your building, but it is important that this does not impact your fire safety.

Reducing door handle contact

A study by the New England Medical Journal, which researched the survival of coronavirus on a number of surfaces, identified that the virus was still detectable on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel 72 hours later. While regular cleaning can help combat transmission, the inevitable use of door handles means that they can quickly become a hotspot for the spread of germs.

Improving visibility and aiding social distancing

While lock down restrictions remain uncertain, social distancing measures are expected to stay for some time. Holding open internal doors facilitates social distancing by allowing improved vision when entering or leaving a room, or when travelling through a corridor. Not to mention the post-COVID etiquette of whether or not you should hold the door open for the person behind you!

Increasing ventilation

Workplace guidance published on 11th May 2020 identified ways employers and employees can work safely during the pandemic. One of the recommendations included the requirement for increased ventilation which can be achieved by opening windows and doors. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: “Good ventilation can help to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus, so focus on improving general ventilation. Where possible, consider ways to increase the supply of fresh air, for example, by opening windows and doors”

The solution

Geofire’s Agrippa door holder allows a door to be hygienically held open in a fixed position, preventing the need to touch the door handle. The Agrippa door closer’s free-swing feature allows a door to be held open at any angle. Using ‘listen and learn’ technology, the Agrippa suite of products will automatically release the door on the sound of the building’s fire alarm. Wedges or homemade devices should never be used to hold open a fire door and is illegal should a fire occur. Building operators have a legal responsibility to ensure fire doors are not illegally wedged open to ensure that they can prevent the spread of smoke and flames. The Agrippa wire-free fire door holder and closer are fully compliant to the requirements of BS 7273-4 for standard actuation of fire doors, and third party tested and approved to EN1154 and EN1155.

Andy Collinson, CEO at Geofire said: “Wedging open a fire door removes its ability to stop the spread of fire, putting lives at risk. There are legally compliant solutions readily available if ease of movement around a building or increased ventilation is required. “From new builds to listed buildings, we have products to suit every installation; conventional hard wired, radio wire free and the Agrippa fire door holder and closer allow ‘dual mode’ installation, meaning you can install straight from the box and programme our innovative ‘listen and learn’ patent technology at a more convenient time”.

To learn more about Agrippa and how it can help infection control within your building, visit http://www.geofire.co.uk/agrippa-covid19-solution/.