Railway Strategies Issue 103 Final Edition

Page 62

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Allied Insulators

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Jon Knapper with a selection of NEW 25kV Silicon Rubber OLE insulators and the latest Third Rail Insulators

History in the making... With over 150 years of insulator design and manufacture heritage to look back on, Allied Insulators has a deep pool of experience in serving the rail industry and other markets within the UK and around the world

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A switchgear product manufactured for the UK electricity distribution companies – an 11kV Air Break Switch Disconnector

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he company’s journey began during the 19th century in 1842 when Captain J Buller and J Devett purchased the Folly Pottery situated in Bovey Tracy, Devon and founded the Bovey Tracy Pottery Company. The company then became one of the first manufacturers to explore the possibilities presented by the emerging market generated by communications and electrical power. Owing to the cost of transporting coal (used to fire the porcelain) between Staffordshire and Somerset the company transferred its operations to the heart of the potteries industry and by 1862 operating as W W Buller & Co, the business was trading out of Hanley, Staffordshire. The Allied Insulators brand first appeared in 1959 following an agreement between Bullers Ltd and Taylor Tunnicliff to share technical and marketing experience. The companies continued to trade under their own names until the closure of Taylor Tunnicliff Eastwood,

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Hanley caused an amalgamation of the two businesses to form Allied Insulators Ltd in 1972. Between 1985 and 2010 Allied Insulators continued to operate through various owners and acquisitions that saw it become part of the Fairey Group in 1997 and the Wade Allied Group in 1999. During 2011 a management buyout of Allied Insulators from the Wade Allied Group restored the company back to its true original form. The company’s long history can be still found in transmission, distribution and rail electrification today. Notably all of the original UK rail infrastructure both overhead and underground was built with insulators manufactured by Allied Insulators and its former associates, including the famous Doulton insulators so the company remains very proud to have that entire heritage to look back on. Whilst renowned for this porcelain legacy and capability the company is now well diversified into more modern insulators and


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