Business Action | Spring 2024
Spring 2024 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes finalists in the North Devon Business Awards 2024, how to book tickets for the North Devon Business Awards Celebration Event, a focus on Torrington business and articles on manufacturers, local business directory listings plus more.
Spring 2024 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes finalists in the North Devon Business Awards 2024, how to book tickets for the North Devon Business Awards Celebration Event, a focus on Torrington business and articles on manufacturers, local business directory listings plus more.
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HEADER<br />
Reflecting excellence worldwide<br />
Take a closer lookatany<br />
industryandyousoondiscover<br />
multiplelayersofcomplexity.<br />
Forexample,SFLFlues&<br />
Chimneysmanufacturessimple<br />
domesticgasventsandstove<br />
flues,butalsoresearches,<br />
developsandproduceslarge,<br />
verycomplexcommercial<br />
chimneysystems.<br />
Theseaddressnotonlythe<br />
specificrequirementsof<br />
individualsectors–from<br />
bakeries,coffeeroastersand<br />
pizzacompaniestodata<br />
centres,carehomes,hospitals<br />
andoilrigs–butalsolocal<br />
climaticconditionswhereverin<br />
theworldcustomersoperate.<br />
50+ years of expertise<br />
SFLhasestablisheditsindustry<br />
expertiseandglobalreputation<br />
ofitstrusted13brandsover<br />
50+yearsofoperationin<br />
Barnstaple,startingasSelkirk<br />
andnowasanautonomous<br />
memberoftheEuropean-wide<br />
SpheringGroup.<br />
Thisofferscollaboration<br />
withothergroupchimneyand<br />
flueproducersandprovides<br />
supportviaSphering’sWeLab®<br />
R&Dcentre.Theserelationships<br />
alsobringaccesstopartner<br />
companies’complementary<br />
products,enablingSFLto<br />
customisecomprehensive<br />
packagestomeetcustomers’<br />
specificrequirements.<br />
What happens inside the large buildings on North Devon business<br />
estates? Few appreciate the scale of specialist manufacturing which<br />
produces materials, parts and products, a lot of which are exported<br />
across the world. Editor Robert Zarywacz always welcomes the<br />
opportunity to visit these facilities and share stories illustrating the<br />
important role manufacturers play in the area. Recently, he visited SFL<br />
Flues & Chimneys at Pottington to see how they manufacture highquality<br />
products for both UK and international customers<br />
North Devon employer<br />
FirmlybasedinNorthDevon,<br />
SFL’s80+dedicatedemployees<br />
shareawealthofengineering<br />
expertiseandskillsestablished<br />
overdecades.Recognisingthe<br />
valueofitsteam,SFLis<br />
investingintherefurbishment<br />
ofitsemployeefacilities.<br />
Investing to innovate<br />
SFLalsomaintainscontinuous<br />
investmenttoensurethe<br />
productionfacilitiesatits<br />
120,000sqftmanufacturing<br />
plantremainuptodate.<br />
Therecentadditionofahigh<br />
precisionfibrelasercutting<br />
machineandpressbrake,and<br />
othersignificantinvestments<br />
alreadyapprovedmaintain<br />
SFL’spositionattheforefrontof<br />
advancedflueandchimney<br />
innovation,manufacturingand<br />
technology.Thisengineering<br />
excellenceisassociatedwithits<br />
portfolioofbrands,whichare<br />
recognisedinternationallyfor<br />
theirhighquality.<br />
Itisvitalforspecifiers,<br />
contractors,andhouseholders<br />
toknowthattheycanrelyon<br />
productperformancewith<br />
completeconfidence.This<br />
includeseaseandspeedof<br />
installation,whichare<br />
supportedbydesignfeatures<br />
suchastwist-lockjointing<br />
connectionsprovidingrapid<br />
andsecurejoints.<br />
Service and performance<br />
SFLiscommittedtoproviding<br />
excellentcustomerserviceand<br />
offershigh-qualitytechnical<br />
supportateverystageofdesign,<br />
manufactureandsupply.<br />
Thisappliesbothtoits<br />
domesticbrands–aimedat<br />
wood-fired,multi-fuelstoves<br />
andgasandoil-fuelledboilers,<br />
mostlyreadilyavailablefrom<br />
warehousestock–andtomore<br />
complexcommercialproducts.<br />
SFLworksinpartnership<br />
withcustomers,consultingon<br />
individualandspecificmarket<br />
requirementsandvisitingthem<br />
intheUKandoverseas.<br />
WithitsextensiveR&D<br />
centreandtestingfacilitiesin<br />
Barnstaple,SFLtestsproducts<br />
toensuretheymaintainhigh<br />
performance,especiallyin<br />
extremeenvironmentsand<br />
weatherconditions.Testscan<br />
measurethermal,mechanical,<br />
tightnessandfinedust<br />
performance.Forexample,<br />
simulatingeffectsof120mph<br />
continuouswindsexperienced<br />
duringtyphoonsassures<br />
customersinJapanthatSFL<br />
productsdeliverthedemanding<br />
performancetheyrequire.<br />
Selling worldwide<br />
Testingisalsovitalforattaining<br />
andmaintaininginternational<br />
qualityandsafetystandards.<br />
SFLproductsbeartheUL<br />
markforUSandCanadian<br />
markets,aswellasEuropean<br />
CEandUKCAmarks.Inthe<br />
UK,SFLproductsareHETAS<br />
(HeatingEquipmentTesting<br />
andApprovalScheme)<br />
approved,whileitsoperations<br />
areaccreditedtotheglobalISO<br />
9001qualitystandard.<br />
Theseaccreditations<br />
underpinSFL’sinternational<br />
reputation,reflectedinits<br />
exportof30%+ofproduction<br />
totheUSA,JapanandEurope.<br />
ThiswasrecognisedbySFL<br />
winningtheNorthDevon<br />
ManufacturersAssociation’s<br />
ExporteroftheYear2023.<br />
SFL’sachievementsremind<br />
usofmanufacturers’importance<br />
totheNorthDevoneconomy.<br />
■ Details01271326633or<br />
sflchimneys.com<br />
SFL’s recent investment includes a high precision fibre laser cutter<br />
SFL products are shipped from Barnstaple across the world<br />
business-action.uk | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2024</strong> | business action 3
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