The leading prison
fencer in the country has notched up 80 years in existence – with the plan to
double its turnover by the time it turns 100.
Binns Fencing Limited,
now a part of the Zaun perimeter protection group, is ideally placed to benefit
from the growing fear of international terrorism, both from organised targeting
of critical national infrastructure and the current trend for lone wolf
attacks.
But the firm had much
humbler routes. AJ Binns was first registered in 1937, when John Binns
set up business in Great Marlborough Street in Central London.
As the demand for
Binns products grew, the company was divided into two sections to accommodate
the specialist knowledge required for the diversity of its product range.
AJ Binns Limited
catered for the growth in the sports and leisure industry and today remains one
of the industry leaders in changing room equipment, shop fittings and racking
systems.
Meanwhile, Binns
Fencing rapidly grew to become the market leader in the installation of high
security fencing systems
Binns Fencing MD Adam
Binns, grandson of the founder John, reminisces: “Eighty years with the direct
descendants of one family at the helm feels like quite a milestone in this day
and age.
“And there have been
many twists and turns and trials and tribulations in that time.”
Adam’s father and
John’s son Julian joined the company in 1970, having trained as an industrial
designer. He commissioned renowned industrial designer Sir Kenneth Grange
CBE to design a new range of products based on good looks, high quality materials
and the flexibility to suit a wide range of applications.
The range was given
the name Variset® and won a Design Council Award in 1972. From the original
multiple hook system, the range has developed to include many more products,
with design quality always the top priority.
In 1997, the company
moved to its present location in Potters Bar, alongside sister business Binns
Fencing, since when it has introduced the reverse hook system, coin operated
cable lock and, most recently, the Hookamals range.
Meanwhile, Binns
Fencing was forging a fine reputation working with high security businesses and
institutions.
It too was an
innovator in its field, developing its own registered design anti-climb system
called the Flexible Security Topping or FST. Over the years, this has
been installed in HM prisons, secure hospitals, young offender institutions and
immigration centres throughout the UK and worldwide.
More recently, Binns
Fencing has adapted the configuration of FST specifically for the utility
sector. Mounted on top of utility compound perimeter fencing, it presents
razor wire to a would-be intruder without posing any risk to the public.
This followed the sale
of a majority stake to Zaun Limited in 2015, which bought 73% from Adam's
brother, aunt and father Julian, while Adam retained his 27% shareholding.
He said: “I had been
looking for a new partner for a few years and had talks with other fencing
manufacturers. But Zaun was the best match.
“We had worked
alongside each other on a number of prison and other high security jobs over
the years, including the £250m-plus super prison that opened at Wrexham this
year, and this coming together was the natural next step.
“With more and more
clients asking for integration of both physical and electronic security
solutions as well, this acquisition alongside Zaun’s purchase of EyeLynx
massively enhanced the range of systems we as a group could integrate.”
Binns’ exemplary
reputation with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence and NHS Trusts
has led it to unveil a Centre of Excellence for Prisons at its Potters Bar HQ
and propose a new model of perimeter security and PIDs procurement and delivery.
It believes the UK
Government could make significant savings by adopting its proposed model for
delivering perimeter security, where it provides a single point of contact for
the complete perimeter security package, providing greater opportunity for innovation,
reducing complexity and the need to manage multiple contractors.
Binns believes this
could offer significant cost savings on PIDs cable installation and contract
and project management costs.
The Government is yet
to announce its latest prison build and refurbishment programme. But, as
Security & Policing kicks off, the first prisoners will be moved into HMP
Berwyn, the new super-prison at Wrexham, which will eventually house up to 2,100
inmates and cost £250m to build.
Adam concluded: “We
have devised this model in consultation with the Government, main contractors
and suppliers, to deliver best value and a greater potential to innovate with a
single point of contact throughout procurement, delivery and installation.
“This increasing
integration and collaboration is the future and I believe Binns is well placed
to double its turnover in the next 20 years on the back of the trend.”
