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COMPANY HISTORY :: K & A FURNESS

The company was founded June 1st 1954 by Ken & Alma Furness by Ken Furness who was a sheet-metal worker by trade.

The original premises, providing employment for 3 men, was a rented room above a Fishmongers Shop on Farrow Street, Shaw. Machinery was all second hand. The mode of transport for delivering goods was a homemade barrow.

Company growth and expansion necessitated larger premises. A chapel on Bartlemore Street, Derker, Oldham, was converted into a sheet-metal factory to satisfy the growing needs in 1959, employees grew to 6.

1972 saw the Company move into the newly purpose built factory where it now stands on a previous cotton-mill site. Mr. Furness bought the land and self-built the premises. The company now employs 10 – 15 workers using modern manufacturing equipment.

To comply with quality standards required by the Ministry of Defence (one of the companies biggest customers) K & A Furness Ltd., obtained AQAP’s 3 & 9 during late 1970’s.

When British Standard BS 5750 became a requirement for the manufacturing industry the company achieved the accreditation in 1994.

British Standard BS EN ISO 9002 replaced the above BS 5750 further developing quality and systems. The company achieved its accreditation to the new standard through continuous improvement from 1994 till the end of the century.

K & A Furness Limited is pleased to now hold the latest and current British Standard BS EN ISO 9001 to include design from 2005.

Most recently, and very importantly we have add to our certification and accreditations – an ATEX directive / CE declaration of conformity, (for stainless steel Jet-Vac equipment) in 2006.

JET-VAC HISTORY AND FACTS

The Jet-Vac was developed and designed in the 1950’s as Mr. Ken Furness’s Interest was aroused when he noticed the smoke from his cigarette was sucked out of a small opening in the quarter-light window of the car as he was driving.

He borrowed a book from the library and read about the venture principle and developed a prototype based on this. The Jet-Vac was patented in 1961& went into commercial production in 1962.

Originally the product was named ’ V.1’ after a German rocket. As the product range grew the name Jet-Vac derived because it symbolized a jet of air that creates a vacuum. Once the V1 was developed, symbolizing 1 x venturi, further models, using more venturis for more powerful suction up to 9 venturis were produced.

The essence being a Jet-Vac with 9 x venturis is 9 times more powerful than a Jet-Vac with 1 x venturi. The amount of venturis fitted into the unit is identified by the number after the ‘V’ ie: V.1. V.2 V.3 etc.,

Smaller versions to the Jet-Vac range were subsequently developed called the Mini range. As powerful as their larger counterparts, but seated on smaller receptacles.

A unique feature set our company apart from competitors in that, any Jet-Vac or its receipticle could be tailor made to suit the individuals requirements as the company was originally set up as a Sheet-Metal and Engineering business. We are the sole manufacturers of Jet-Vac which is manufactured here at our premises is Shaw.

Along with the Jet-Vac equipment we supply a full range of hose, tools and accessories.

The first Jet-Vac ever sold was to H. Gill Engineers of Birmingham for the removal of swarf and oil from sumps on lathes.

The Ministry of Defence is the companies largest customer purchasing the Jet-Vac for a wide and varied range of applications. Their custom spanning over 40 years of business, up to the present day.