The company was formed as Hartnell and Rose Ltd in 1981, to manufacture acoustic insulation for the suspended ceiling industry, and to market and distribute a metal suspended ceiling system known as Flairline, manufactured by a metal section rollers in the midlands. There were two directors, Eddie Williams and Jack Donnelly, who were joined in 1991 by a third director Julian Donnelly
The acoustic insulation was made of mineral wool encased or faced with various materials. These included pvc and polythene film, aluminium, and none woven tissue. They were made in pad or roll form, and were laid over the back of perforated metal suspended ceilings. This gave acoustic absorption to the ceiling, and therefore to the area into which it was installed. These were generally commercial buildings, offices, sports halls, Airports, etc. They were sold mainly to suspended ceiling contractors, who then installed them with the ceiling.
The Flairline metal ceiling system was marketed through architects and ceiling contractors. The first contract obtained was for a processing plant for British nuclear fuels at Workington. Sales over the next two years were so successful the parent company decided to market the system themselves.
This left the company with just the insulation business. This had grown over the two years, and the company moved from the original premises in Farnworth to larger ones in the ground floor of a mill in George Street Farnworth. Over the next four years price competition became more intense. There were a number of elements which generated this. The main manufacturer of this type of insulation had the market mainly to themselves prior to Hartnell and Rose coming on the scene. They were part of a large insulation company and were determined to keep their market share. Other companies had also started to produce the same product in what, overall, was only a small market. All of these companies manufactured insulation for other markets; the ceiling side was just a part of this.
Hartnell and Rose were solely dependant on the ceiling industry, and therefore felt the squeeze more severely. Action had to be taken. It was decided in the late 80`s to change from mineral fibre as a base material to foam. This was cleaner, did not need encasing or facing, but was untried within the ceiling industry. It was also decided to try and develop our own specialist products based on foam. These would be designed for a specific purpose, and provide a tested acoustic performance. They would be specifiable to meet specific demands, and would replace the generic products currently produced.
In 1990 the company moved from Farnworth to a more modern unit in lever street Bolton. Throughout the 90`s products where developed for improving the acoustic performance of internal building structures, including floors, ceilings, and walls. Increased business necessitated the move to larger premises, and these where purchased in 1999 in Lever Street. At the same time it was decided to change the name to SRS, which was more descriptive to the nature of the business.
Sound Reduction Systems Ltd is now increasingly known in the building industry for its innovative products fulfilling the demands of building acoustics.
Institute of Acoustics Members
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