History of Centurion Safety Products Ltd
Centurion Safety Products Limited had its origins back in 1879 when it was known as The Patent Pulp Manufacturing Company Limited and manufactured a variety of pulpware items ranging from household goods such as trays, baby baths and washing bowls to pith safety helmets and water bottles for the army.
Original site of the Patent Pulp Manufacturing Co Ltd
The raw material differed from papier mache, with which it was often erroneously associated, in that papier mache was built up from layers of damp paper which were then compressed, whereas pulpware was moulded from a standardised pulp made from shredded jute rag, paper and wood, resulting in a product which was inexpensive, light, waterproof and extremely durable.
Specially adapted Miners helmets: Type 103 for
extra neck protection.
Type 86 for wet working conditions
Pulpware proved to be extremely popular, and by the 1920s the company was distributing worldwide and had sold more than 3.5 million products. During the 1930s the company had a product range of more than 150 items, which included helmets for the military, mines and shipyards, as well as its household items.
With the outbreak of war in 1939, production was almost entirely engaged on the demands for war - the range included fire sand buckets, vulcanised fibre fuel jettison tanks for Spitfire and Bomber aircraft, parts for dummy figures placed around gun sites, and specially adapted miners hats for the Royal Tank Regiment and motorcycle dispatch riders.
Tank Crew Helmet as used in World War II
The 1950s saw the demise of pulpware, with the increased use of plastics such as Polythene and Polypropylene. The company changed production to plastics and fibreglass and continued as an important manufacturer of safety helmets under the name of Thetford Moulded Products. In 1973, the introduction of legislation to make the wearing of motorcycle helmets compulsory led to a large increase in the production capacity and turnover of the company, and over 2 million of the best-selling jet-style XCS motor cycle helmets were produced. But by the early 1990s, with the growing influx of cheap imports, the company decided to concentrate its efforts on the industrial sector, manufacturing safety helmets and accessories for face and hearing protection, and changed its name to Centurion Safety Products Limited.
In 1990, the company moved from its original site in the centre of Thetford to new premises on the outskirts of the town to accommodate its growing requirements. In 1997, Centurion took over the business of Martindale Protection, and so added respiratory equipment to its Personal Protection Equipment range.
The opening of an extension in 1999 doubled the production capacity, and with the purchase of a printing company in 2002, added the facility to pad print corporate logos on industrial helmets in-house.
In-house Pad Printing