Teddington upgrades KBB production line and marks 60th anniversary of fire safety valve

Engineering specialist Teddington has upgraded the assembly line for its industry-leading KBB fire safety valve which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

The £10,000 investment has resulted in a 25% increase in production to help meet rising demand.

Orders of the KBB have increased by 70% in the last three years and sales are expected to rise by a further 5% in the next 12 months – with plans to build a second assembly line later in the year. 

The KBB fire safety valve, manufactured by Teddington, is still going strong after 60 years.

Peter Wiltshire, director of Surrey-based trade supplier OH Products, which stocks the KBB, said: “The KBB is the Hoover of the industry. For the product to have such longevity, it stands to reason that Teddington has used every expertise, investment, engineering and procurement tool in their armoury to stay ahead of their competition.

“I’ve been associated with the KBB since 1967 when it was the only capillary operated fire valve on the market. It is a very reliable device based on very sound engineering practices.

“From its inception, it was designed in such a way that it could not have been bettered. It was fit for purpose from the outset and is still very much in high demand.”

The KBB is installed in the oil supply outside a building, with a sensor mounted inside the boiler above the burner. The valve will automatically close if the temperature at the sensor exceeds a set value, protecting properties against the risk of fire.  The device is fully OFTEC approved and comes with a three-year warranty.

Teddington MD James Henderson (left) in the KBB production area.

Kenneth Maxwell, Teddington Sales Manager, said: “The recent investment is part of our continuous commitment to growth and improvement, reflecting our desire to continually provide the best-quality products to our customers.

“After 60 years the KBB is still going strong, with orders continuing to rise.  One factor behind the recent market growth has been the low cost of oil compared to alternative off-grid sources such as electricity and LPG. It remains the cheapest fuel to heat people’s homes, offering a lower running cost even compared to mains gas.”

OFTEC regulations state fire safety valves should be inspected annually for any signs of damage or leakage at joints with the oil supply pipe.

The correct operation of the valve can be observed using test equipment such as Teddington’s KBT1000.

The KBB is celebrating its 60th year of continious production in 2018.

Teddington is a UK manufacturer based at St Austell, Cornwall. Among other sectors, it specialises in valves and electronic control devices for heating, plumbing and ventilation.

For more information on the KBB, visit www.kbbfirevalve.co.uk.