TEAMWORK THE KEY TO LEWIS TYLER SUCCESS
Established in 1957, Hatfield-based Lewis Tyler & Sons (Fencing) Ltd has a long history of providing timber and fencing to the local area.
The firm initially manufactured breeze blocks in Datchworth for the expansion of nearby Welwyn Garden City but soon moved into the timber and fencing sector. After relocating to a bigger yard in Burnham Green, the business was able to increase its operation significantly. The company grew steadily, with Burnham Green soon becoming just one of three premises that the business was operating from.
Director Barry Carter, who joined the business in 1987, took up the story:
“In the early 1980s, a decision was made to amalgamate the three sites into one. Founder Alan Tyler, upon leaving an event held in the grounds of Hatfield House, drove past a yard on the estate that was being advertised for rent. It was a rough and ready pot-holed piece of land, but he saw the potential. The company had to spend considerably to improve the site with drainage systems, offices, and security fencing installed. The whole area was concreted and made usable.
“My wife Helen Carter took over the business when her father, Alan, retired several years ago. It’s all about teamwork! Every person working for Lewis Tyler & Sons is important to its continued success. The day-to-day operation of the company is mainly handled by Kirstie Ashman and myself, with Angela Tapper ably assisting both. The purchasing of timber is the job of Chris Davies. Health & safety and machine maintenance is taken care of by Philip Ashman. We currently have 26 staff,” added Barry.
Panel production forms the main part of the business, with trademarked Tylap® fence panels and the increasingly popular close board panel proving to be popular sellers. Barry went on:
“We also manufacture other panel products such as palisade, trellis, and bespoke items. We can produce over 3,000 units daily. We also have a gate department in Welwyn Garden City, which produces thousands of gates every year. We have a 60m³ pressure treatment plant used to treat our own fencing materials and those of other local merchants who bring their timber to us for treatment.
“The treatment plant and surrounding area have recently been cleaned, renovated, and updated and are due to have an Auto Treater installed in the near future. During the recent pandemic, we were fortunate enough to be able to continue manufacturing and delivering our products to our customers.
“We supply the whole of the southeast, home counties, and London. We also have customers in Wiltshire, Northants, Norfolk, and on the south coast. We have two artic low loader vehicles which can transport anywhere from 400-700 panels at a time and recently invested in a new Fassi crane vehicle which has been hugely useful. A 15-tonne flatbed lorry and transit van complete the fleet.
“We supply most of our products to other merchants but also supply local tradesmen as well as the general public. Last year was relatively quiet, but this year has seen a steady rise in business, and sales are healthy and robust. We are confident the rest of the year will continue in the same way.
“We have built up some wonderful relationships with many people over time, and some have become good friends. New business tends to come from word of mouth, and generally, once the quality of the products is seen, companies are pleased to trade with us. We like to think our reputation is built on our customer relations, service, and our quality products, particularly our Tylap panel range, which we think is the best lapped panel on the market.
“The company has, in the past, sponsored a local football team and currently sponsors the ‘Lewis Tyler Golf Society,’ which has been going for many years. We are in good health to face the future and build on the reputation built up over the last 67 years,” he concluded.
For more information, visit Lewis Tyler & Sons, call Tel: 01707 268523, or email: sales@lewistyler.net
