Horton Automatics

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.

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

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

• Automatic door systems
• Commercial entrance solutions
• Sliding door operators
• Healthcare ICU doors
• Bespoke door manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Telford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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
2. 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
3. Retrofit and Supply Only: Supply of automatic door gearing for retrofitting to existing doors, or supply-only options for customers with their own installers
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers34 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Novoferm GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorton 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 LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Novoferm Group, Horton can offer Robust UK's range of steel and GLAS-DOR solutions, expanding their product portfolio.
• The Garage Door Company LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Novoferm Group partnership, access to The Garage Door Company Ltd's range of garage doors.
• Bolton Gate ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThrough the Novoferm Group, access to Bolton Gate Services 365 days a year servicing offer for ongoing maintenance.
• NovofermcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerNovoferm 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

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/HortonAutomaticsLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horton-automatics-ltd-
• Instagraminstagram.com/hortonautomaticsuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horton Automatics