Stanford Marsh, the UK’s leading supplier of wide format printers, consumables and service support, is celebrating 60 years of business. Founded in 1965, with roots in traditional draughting, the company has grown exponentially, adapting its technological expertise and offering while moving into the 3D printing and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) markets. With a turnover of circa £25 million, it’s now helping to bridge the gap between digital design offices and construction sites or factory floors.
Stanford Marsh started from humble beginnings. Its founder, Charles Stanford Marsh, who remains Group Chairman, started the company from a house in Worcester. Over the years, he gradually grew the company by offering drafting tools, reprographic equipment and various consumables — all designed to help the design office function in different organisations. Eventually, the company grew to a size that allowed the owner to acquire land in Buckholt Drive, Worcester in 1982, which is still the company’s HQ.
Over the years, the company has represented many leading manufacturers. Early on, it supplied drawing instruments from companies such as Staedtler and Rotring and, at the time, was a UK distributor of Diazit Systems. Later, it formed ties with companies such as Xerox and Océ.
Today, it partners with leading printing names such as HP, Canon and Epson. Furthermore, Stanford Marsh also partner Autodesk, meaning it can supply its CAD/CAM software and Stratasys on the 3D printing side.
“60 years is a fantastic milestone and a lesson in what it takes to gain such longevity,” explained Adrian Painter, group director at Stanford Marsh Group. “Our success is down to the people we’ve hired over the years, who share our values and vision. We’ve always been a customer and people-centric organisation, and we wanted to create an environment where people enjoy their job.
“Then there’s the technology, we’ve come a long way since the labour-intensive days of traditional draughting,” added Painter. “For example, in the late 1980s, we started helping customers move from drawing boards to 2D CAD, and, eventually, we were moving onto 3D virtual software, which customers use to perform finite element analyses” (FEA). Today, intelligent 3D models and rendered images are the norm — and I’ve no doubt the technology will continue to evolve.”
Another factor in the company’s success has been its constant evolution. To help boost its 3D printing expertise, in 2017 it acquired Tri-Tech 3D, a Stoke-on-Trent-based supplier of Stratasys FDM, PolyJet, P3, SL and SAF 3D printing technologies.
Also in the Stanford Marsh Group is CAD/CAM software and training specialist Cadspec, which has enjoyed a 35-year relationship with leading software provider Autodesk. There is also the 3D Print Bureau, an in-house additive manufacturing (AM) service provider that works with industries ranging from automotive and aerospace to medical.
To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Stanford Marsh will host several localised activities and events throughout the year.
For more information on Stanford Marsh’s products and support, visit the company website https://www.stanfordmarsh.co.uk/home.
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