Few companies can trace their origins back to the late 19th century and fewer can detail a record of century-long development. L.P Foreman & Sons, established in 1886, offers a unique story from mastering woodcraft for sports equipment to engineering high quality composite packaging for aerospace and the military.
1886 to the World Wars
The company was founded in 1886 by Luther Foreman, a Suffolk timber merchant who acquired the Willow Works site in Chelmsford to manufacture cricket bats. However, the industrial boom was imminent. By 1912, the rise of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd. shifted L.P Foreman’s focus and their expert woodworking skills were soon applied to making robust packing cases for the new wireless equipment.
This foundation in high-quality wood packaging proved vital. After recovering from a devastating fire in 1937, the company played a vital role in World War II. Where they stored national stocks of essential imported hardwoods and Balsa wood for the construction of Mosquito aircraft.
Acquisitions and Standards
Post-war brought new challenges and ownership. In 1969, the company was acquired by GEC, driven by Foremans’ strong relationship with local Marconi and English Electric Valve companies. In 1996 Marconi decided to stop its investment in Foremans allowing a management buyout. This enabled the company to focus on modern specialised, high-standard packaging and Foremans became the first approved packaging supplier for the whole of GEC Group.
Key milestones validated Foreman’s expertise.
- 1999: Opened a dedicated, humidity-controlled facility for commercial packing, capable of meeting military standards.
- 2000: Appointed fabricator for Tri-Wall heavy-duty corrugated services in the Southeast.
- 2003: Acquired Adpax Ltd, a specialist military packaging company, instantly boosting their defence expertise.
Resilience and the Modern Era
In 2008, the company faced another major fire that demolished 10,000 sq. ft of storage. The workforce demonstrated its commitment to the company and its clients. By working together, they had the company back in operation within 24 hours.
Recent Years: Focus on Efficiency and Sustainability
The following years shifted L.P Foreman’s focus toward optimising production through technology, driving efficiency, and promoting material neutrality to better serve their clients with sustainability goals.
- 2010: They invested in a new CNC router facility to offer specialist machine work and reusable cases, expanding solutions by distributing durable Zarges and Peli cases.
- 2012–2014: Major investments were made in computerised equipment, including a sample table machine and a 2-colour box maker, significantly improving design quality control, and speeding up time-to-market.
The company continues to evolve its business to meet new technology and regulations from the MoD and other key industries. Whilst, maintaining a commitment to sustainability and the environment.
130 Years of Business History
From the handcrafted precision required for a cricket bat to the high-tech engineering of a composite crate for the MoD. L.P Foreman & Sons has consistentlydemonstrated the expertise and resilience necessary to remain a leader within the packaging industry for over 130 years. If your business is looking for specialised packaging, then get in touch. Contact us for a no-obligation free quotation and design evaluation call 01245 264521, send an email or complete our online form.