About Elmbridge

Complete package finishing provider for manufacturers using metal and wood.

Elmbridge UK – Innovation, Accountability, and Simplicity

At Elmbridge UK we focus on customer satisfaction. Whether you are simply ordering an off the shelf product or a full production line we have the knowledge and expertise to fulfil your requirement to the highest level.

Having started in 1976 we began our journey in the engineering supplies field. This was joined by our industrial coatings department in 1998 closely followed by spray equipment in 2000. The last part of our current puzzle is our wood coatings department which took off in 2008. You’ll be able to see more of the Elmbridge Journey below and we proudly say we are well established in each area with product experts dedicated to working with you.

We are always looking for new and improved products to offer you and looking to refine processes where we can to make sure you are getting the best return on your investments. Stay tuned in with us to make sure you don’t miss out.

The Elmbridge Story

1976

Start Up

From the humble beginnings of a garage in the area of Elmbridge, Gloucester, David Freeman set out to conquer the engineering market!

1981

First Premises Secured

Having grown too big for the garage, Elmbridge’s first premises were secured in Stroud Road, Gloucester. With the newly acquired space we were then able to have a trade counter, and a forklift!

1990

Moved to the Docks

With Elmbridge growing at a considerable rate, we took the plunge and created a purpose built 10,000 ft facility in the Docks area of Gloucester.

1996

Elmbridge Just Gets Bigger!

If 10,000 ft wasn’t big enough, a further 12,000 ft was added to cope with rapid expansion. Spinnaker 2 is born!

1998

Entered the Paint Market

Elmbridge enters the colourful world of paint and a remarkable discovery was made! During market research we uncovered that nearly all of our engineering customers used paint to coat what they were making. Elmbridge enters a partnership with Jotun Paints.

2000

Spray Equipment Launched

With litres of paint now flying out the door, we realised the opportunity for application equipment. Entering a relationship with Wagner we started selling both electric and Pneumatic Airless sprayers predominantly to the Structural Steel market. However, the seeds were sewn and we saw the opportunities of this potential product range.

2007

Wood Coatings Launched

If our product range wasn’t enough, we had the crazy idea of entering the world of wood. With Spray Equipment taking us into wood manufacturers, we spied an opportunity to provide coatings for this industry. We partnered with Sayerlack, to take their products to the market starting with our existing customer base.

2008

Custom Built Hereford Facility

Elmbridge built a 10,000 ft Facility in the grassy hills of Hereford. This enabled us to further facilitate growth pushing North and into South Wales. With its own Trade Counter, Warehouse and Offices, it proved a huge success.

2011

Elmbridge Splits into Two Companies

Following 35 years of a successful partnership it was decided to split the business to the two ‘Freeman’ families;

Elmbridge Supplies Company UK Ltd – supplying Coatings and Spray Equipment nationally. Welding and Engineering Supplies locally and to the South West.

ESCCO – supplying Welding and Engineering Supplies in Herefordshire, South Wales and North. Further gone on to specialise in Plasma Cutting Tables, manufactured in house!

2013

Acquired Safeguard Protective Coatings

Acquired the company Safeguard Protective Coatings in Yeovil, Somerset. This further helped our desire to become the preferred coatings supplier in the South West. SPC were a Jotun and Sayerlack distributor also so the two company’s customers were a great fit!

2016

Acquisition #2

Not stopping there, we went on to buy Spray Finishing Solutions in Ferndown, Dorset. SFS Specialised in Coatings Application, Extraction and Curing Equipment along with associated accessories. With a wealth of customers and experience in this marketplace this continued to support Elmbridge in becoming recognised as coatings and application experts.

2018

Gloucester Facility Expanded

With our Gloucester facility just about bursting we obtained further space nearby and Unit 6 is born! This was to be utilised as further warehouse space and future workshop.

2019

New Workshop and Training Facility

Unit 6 is adapted to hold both a workshop and a training facility. Both features enable us to support our customer and staff with their needs.

2020

Rebrand

9 years since the split it was decided to have a Company rebrand. This helped us reimage ourselves. Our tag line was introduced: ‘make it happen’ an already inherent trait!

2021

New Production Space

Another 2500 ft is added with the addition of a Mezzanine floor creating extra manufacturing area for keeping our promise of ‘making it happen’. Two High Volume Corob Tinting Machines are added to the fleet to increase capacity too.