Horton Automatics
Horton Automatics is a UK-based manufacturer and installer of bespoke automatic pedestrian and specialist door systems, including sliding, swing, bi-folding, revolving, healthcare ICU/CCU, and steel security doors, serving healthcare, education, retail, commercial, transport, hospitality, and public-sector clients with nationwide supply and installation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersTelford, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Horton Automatics does
Horton Automatics Ltd is a UK-based private limited company registered in England and Wales (company number 02324269), operating as a manufacturer, supplier, and installer of bespoke automatic pedestrian and specialist door systems. Founded in the UK in 1989 and headquartered in Telford in the West Midlands, the company is part of the Novoferm Group and traces its brand heritage to Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt, who invented the first automatic sliding door in 1954 and co-founded the original Horton Automatics Inc in 1960.
The company's product portfolio spans sliding, swing, bi-folding, revolving, curved sliding, thermally broken sliding and swing, healthcare ICU/CCU, and steel security doors, organized around the proprietary Horton 2021+ and Horton 4100+ product lines. Core technology includes automatic door gearing (with retrofit capability to automate existing doors), thermal break construction for energy efficiency, ADSA BSEN:16005 compliant operators, and an in-house polyester powder coating plant. Manufacturing is bespoke to order, with nationwide UK installation carried out by company-employed, ADSA certified service engineers using genuine parts.
Horton generates revenue through three engagement models: complete turnkey supply-and-installation packages, retrofit operator-only supply with installation, and supply-only for customers with their own installers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; a new Aftercare department is being built out to introduce tailored, subscription-style service and maintenance plans. Customers span healthcare (NHS trusts), education (universities and colleges), retail (IKEA, Pure Gym), commercial and financial services (HSBC, DWP), transport hubs (Eurotunnel, bus stations, Royal Mail Superhub), hospitality (Marriott, The Belfry), sports venues (Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium), and automotive dealerships, alongside an installer/specifier channel of aluminium fabricators and glaziers.
Horton Automatics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Horton Automatics
- Legal name
- Horton Automatics Ltd
- Website
- https://hortonautomatics.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Horton Automatics is a UK-based manufacturer and installer of bespoke automatic pedestrian and specialist door systems, including sliding, swing, bi-folding, revolving, healthcare ICU/CCU, and steel security doors, serving healthcare, education, retail, commercial, transport, hospitality, and public-sector clients with nationwide supply and installation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Horton Automatics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automatic Door Systems
- SIC
- Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial & Industrial Doors (Sectional, High-Speed, Fire, Security) (IMADAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Architectural Hardware & Door Controls (Hinges, Locks, Closers, Panic Devices) (IMADAIAI), Garage Doors & Rolling Shutters (IMADAIAE)
Keywords
Where Horton Automatics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Telford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Horton Automatics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Door System Sales: Sale of complete door packages including automatic entrance systems, sliding doors, swing doors, revolving doors, bi-folding doors, healthcare doors, and steel door solutions
- Installation Services: Complete turnkey installation solutions including removal and disposal of existing doors, with installation available Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.00pm, plus optional late night or weekend installation
- Retrofit and Supply Only: Supply of automatic door gearing for retrofitting to existing doors, or supply-only options for customers with their own installers
- Service and Maintenance: Routine service and maintenance visits by ADSA certified engineers using genuine parts, with new Aftercare department being established for tailored service plans
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Complete door package - supply and installation |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Automatic door gearing retrofit |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Supply only |
| Subscription | Annual | Service and maintenance plans |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Horton Automatics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Horton Automatics manufactures, supplies, and installs bespoke automatic pedestrian and specialist door systems across the UK from its Telford headquarters. Its product range spans sliding, swing, bi-folding, revolving, curved sliding, thermally broken, healthcare ICU/CCU, and steel security doors, alongside operator-only retrofit gearing and ADSA-certified service and maintenance plans.
Product overview
Horton Automatics is a UK-based manufacturer, supplier, and installer of automatic entrance systems, offering a comprehensive portfolio of door products organized around two primary product lines: the Horton 2021+ series (sliding doors, thermally broken variants, and bi-part configurations) and the Horton 4100+ series (operators and door systems). Their core product categories span nine distinct door types—sliding, swing, bi-folding, revolving, curved sliding, thermally broken sliding, thermally broken swing, healthcare ICU/CCU doors, and steel security doors—all manufactured as bespoke solutions to order. The company also offers retrofit automatic door gearing (4100+ operators) to automate existing manual doors, supply-only packages for customers with their own installers, and complete turnkey solutions including removal and installation. Horton operates as part of the Novoferm Group, expanding their offerings to include steel door solutions and commercial garage/industrial doors from group companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sliding Door Applications
Companies that use Horton Automatics
Customer profileNamed customers34 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Horton Automatics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Horton Automatics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Novoferm GroupcoreHorton is now part of the Novoferm Group, which extends their product offerings to include Novoferm UK's garage doors, commercial doors, industrial doors, and loading technology. This partnership provides customers with access to a broader range of door solutions under one umbrella.
- Robust UK LtdminorThrough the Novoferm Group, Horton can offer Robust UK's range of steel and GLAS-DOR solutions, expanding their product portfolio.
- The Garage Door Company LtdminorThrough the Novoferm Group partnership, access to The Garage Door Company Ltd's range of garage doors.
- Bolton Gate ServicesminorThrough the Novoferm Group, access to Bolton Gate Services 365 days a year servicing offer for ongoing maintenance.
- NovofermcoreNovoferm is the parent company providing manufacturing, brand identity, and product development support. Horton Automatics operates as part of the Novoferm Group with shared branding visible on website.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Horton Automatics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- dormakaba UK: Swiss-headquartered entrance and access solutions group offering automatic sliding, swing, and revolving doors alongside access control; competes head-to-head with Horton on UK commercial and healthcare projects.
- Gilgen Door Systems UK: Swiss manufacturer of automatic sliding, swing, and folding doors with a dedicated UK sales and service operation; very comparable bespoke-to-order commercial door proposition and target customer base.
- Tormax UK: UK presence of Swiss automatic door specialist Tormax, supplying sliding, swing, and folding door systems to commercial and healthcare markets — directly overlapping product and channel profile.
- GEZE UK: UK arm of German automatic door systems manufacturer GEZE GmbH, offering sliding, swing, revolving, and integrated entrance solutions for commercial buildings — directly comparable product portfolio and target verticals to Horton.
- Record UK (ASSA ABLOY): Heritage UK automatic door brand (now part of ASSA ABLOY) manufacturing and servicing automatic entrances; long-established UK competitor with similar specification-led go-to-market in healthcare and transport.
- Assa Abloy Entrance Systems (Besam): Global leader in automated pedestrian doors (formerly Besam), serving healthcare, retail, transport, and commercial real estate with a directly overlapping product range and a strong UK service network.
Broad incumbents
- Stanley Access Technologies: US-headquartered automatic door and access solutions business; serves retail, healthcare, and commercial customers with overlapping sliding/swing door capability but at much larger scale.
- KONE Entrance Solutions: Broader elevator and building access incumbent that bundles automatic doors with vertical transportation and maintenance contracts; overlaps with Horton on commercial entrance projects but is not specialist-only.
Emerging players
- Manusa UK: Spanish-headquartered automatic door manufacturer expanding across Europe; offers sliding and revolving door solutions comparable in scope to Horton's product line, though with a smaller UK installed base.
- Came BPT UK (Came Group): European entrance automation group with UK footprint offering automatic sliding, swing, and revolving door systems; comparable product set though with less of a specialist healthcare focus than Horton.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Horton Automatics social profiles
Digital presenceHorton Automatics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Horton Automatics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Horton Automatics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Horton Automatics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Horton Automatics
What does Horton Automatics do?
Horton Automatics manufactures, supplies, and installs bespoke automatic pedestrian and specialist door systems across the UK from its Telford headquarters. Its product range spans sliding, swing, bi-folding, revolving, curved sliding, thermally broken, healthcare ICU/CCU, and steel security doors, alongside operator-only retrofit gearing and ADSA-certified service and maintenance plans.
Is Horton Automatics a public or private company?
Horton Automatics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Horton Automatics founded?
Horton Automatics was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Horton Automatics based?
Horton Automatics is headquartered in Telford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Horton Automatics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Door System Sales are the primary driver. The others are installation Services, retrofit and Supply Only and service and Maintenance.
Who are Horton Automatics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are dormakaba UK, Gilgen Door Systems UK, Tormax UK, GEZE UK, Record UK (ASSA ABLOY) and Assa Abloy Entrance Systems (Besam). Broad incumbents are Stanley Access Technologies and KONE Entrance Solutions. Emerging players are Manusa UK and Came BPT UK (Came Group).
Does Horton Automatics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Horton Automatics.
What industry is Horton Automatics in?
Horton Automatics's product category is Automatic Door Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAIAF, Commercial & Industrial Doors (Sectional, High-Speed, Fire, Security), with a secondary code of IMADAIAI, Architectural Hardware & Door Controls (Hinges, Locks, Closers, Panic Devices). Its SIC code is 3442.