Forbes

What Forbes does

Forbes Technologies Ltd is a privately held UK specialist manufacturer of custom-built industrial plastic storage tanks and environmental control systems, operating from its Crimplesham, Norfolk design headquarters and a 20,000 m² five-factory manufacturing complex in Kelso, Scottish Borders. The company fabricates tanks and vessels in thermoplastics (polypropylene, HDPE PE100, PVDF, ECTFE, PVCu), Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP), and dual laminate composite constructions, with capacities spanning 100 litres to 200,000 litres. Its product portfolio is segmented across thermoplastic (VT/HVT), GRP (PVT/FW/PCS), dual laminate (SDL/Lion), and proprietary bunded (Innatank, MINIBULK) ranges, supported by an environmental technologies line that includes vent scrubbers, wet scrubbers, stripping towers, carbon adsorption units, and degassing towers.

Forbes operates a project-based, engineer-to-order revenue model: every tank is custom-designed by an in-house mechanical and chemical process design team and priced individually via direct sales engagement, with no published price list. The company captures additional revenue from turnkey installation and on-site project management services, ancillary products (pipework, steelwork, TUF pumpsets, chemical filling stations), and recurring tank inspection work routed through its spin-off Tank Inspections Ltd subsidiary (UK licensee for the UltraAnalytix non-destructive inspection system). Primary customer verticals are water treatment/utilities (Thames Water framework) and chemical processing, with secondary exposure to food and beverage, electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, oil and gas, and renewable energy / anaerobic digestion plants. Manufacturing is anchored by proprietary automated processes including KRAH helical spiral winding, chop-hoop filament winding, CNC butt fusion welding, and a purpose-built post-curing oven, and the company holds DWI Regulation 31 product approvals for potable water applications alongside ISO 9001:2015, UVDB Achilles, SafeContractor, and LPS 1276 certifications.

Name

Forbes

Legal name

Forbes Technologies Ltd

Website

https://forbesgroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Forbes Technologies Ltd is a UK-based specialist manufacturer of custom-built industrial plastic, GRP, and dual laminate storage tanks (100L–200,000L) plus environmental control systems, serving water utilities, chemical processors, and industrial customers worldwide through engineer-to-order direct sales and turnkey installation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

King's Lynn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Tank Manufacturing: Design, manufacture and supply of custom-built plastic and composite storage tanks. Tanks are fabricated in thermoplastics (PP, HDPE), GRP, and dual laminate constructions. Capacities range from 100 litres to 200,000 litres. Revenue is project-based with significant custom engineering.
2. Turnkey Services: Full project managed turnkey services including design, installation, commissioning, and on-site services ranging from simple offloading and positioning to complete project management.
3. Tank Inspection Services: Comprehensive tank tests and detailed reports through Tank Inspections Ltd subsidiary using UltraAnalytix technology.
4. Environmental Technology Systems: Supply of environmental control systems including scrubbers, stripping towers, degassers, and odour control systems.
5. Accessories and Components: Pipework, steelwork, chemical filling stations, TUF pumpsets, salt saturators, and other ancillary products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Forbes Technologies Ltd designs, manufactures, and installs custom-built industrial plastic storage tanks in thermoplastics (PP, HDPE, PVDF, ECTFE), GRP, and dual laminate composites, with capacities ranging from 100 litres to 200,000 litres. The company also supplies environmental technology systems including vent scrubbers, wet scrubbers, stripping towers, degassing towers, and carbon adsorption units for odour control, VOC removal, and chemical fume control. Offerings are delivered through direct sales to enterprise customers with full turnkey project management, on-site installation, and ongoing tank inspection services through subsidiary Tank Inspections Ltd.

Product overview

Forbes Group is a specialist manufacturer of industrial plastic tanks and environmental technologies operating from UK-based facilities. The product portfolio comprises four main tank categories (thermoplastic, GRP, dual laminate, and bunded storage) alongside environmental technologies for gas scrubbing and water treatment. Core tank products include MINIBULK® and Innatank® bunded systems, VT and HVT thermoplastic ranges, PVT GRP flat-based tanks, FW firefighting tanks, SDL dual laminate tanks, and PCS conical silos. Environmental offerings encompass SB scrubbers, wet scrubbers, stripping towers, carbon adsorption, and degassing towers. Additional products include TUF pumpsets, salt saturators, and accessories. The company also offers process design, turnkey installation, and tank inspection services. Several tank ranges are DWI Regulation 31 approved for potable water applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lion: Dual laminate tanks approved under DWI Regulation 31 for drinking water applications.
• Cheetah
• Jaguar
• MINIBULK
• Innatank

Products and services

• MINIBULK Bunded chemical storage tanks with 110% integral bund for secondary containment of hazardous liquids, suitable for both low and high pressure deliveries, capacities from 1,500 to 30,000 litres.
• Innatank Integrally bunded storage tank combining a helically wound HDPE tank with an integral close-fitting bund manufactured as one piece, enabling ease of installation with over-the-top discharge and continuous leak monitoring.
• VT Range Thermoplastic Tanks Thermoplastic fabricated storage tanks in flat bottom (VTF), sloping base (VTS), or conical base (VTC) configurations, capacities from 100 to 100,000 litres in polypropylene.
• HVT Range Helically Wound Tanks Extra-large helically wound thermoplastic tanks manufactured using KRAH machinery, producing seamless PE100 HDPE tank shells free from welded seams, capacities from 5,000 to 80,000 litres.
• PVT Range GRP Tanks Standard sized GRP composite flat-based tanks with semi-automated manufacturing, available from 5,000 to 160,000 litres capacity in various diameters.
• FW Range Firefighting Water Storage Tanks GRP firefighting water storage tanks built to LPS 1276 standards with capacities from 50m3 to 200m3, featuring 20-year design life and 10-year drain down inspection intervals.
• SDL Range (Lion) Dual Laminate Tanks Economic range of flat bottomed dual laminate tanks combining GRP strength with thermoplastic inner shells (PP, PVCu, PVDF, ECTFE), capacities from 10,000 to over 150,000 litres.
• PCS Range GRP Silos High-performance GRP silos with conical bases for complete drainage, one-piece body with smooth interior, suitable for granular products such as sugar, animal feeds, and fertilisers.
• DWI Regulation 31 Approved Product Ranges (Lion, Cheetah, Jaguar) Three tank ranges approved under DWI Regulation 31 for use in public water supply: Lion (dual laminate), Cheetah (thermoplastic PP), and Jaguar (spiral wound HDPE).
• SB Scrubber (Bulk Tank Vent Scrubber) Lightweight fume scrubbers manufactured almost entirely from polypropylene for corrosion-free, maintenance-free chemical fume control in industrial applications.
• Wet Scrubbers Systems for removal of contaminants and particulates from gas streams by passing through packed bed or venturi scrubbers.
• Stripping Towers Packed bed tower aeration systems for effective and economical reduction of VOC contamination in liquids.
• Carbon Adsorption Systems Systems for adsorption of solvents, VOCs and other contaminants in liquids or gas phase onto activated carbon.
• Degassing Towers Systems for removal of acid-forming carbon dioxide and other dissolved gases from water.
• Salt Saturators Salt saturators providing continuous and controlled supply of saturated brine solution, manufactured to WRAS standards, capacities from 100kg to 130 tonnes.
• TUF Pumpset High specification corrosion-free, maintenance-free pumping system with controllable operation.
• Chemical Filling Station Secure point for the controlled delivery of hazardous chemicals from tanker to storage tanks, launched in 2016.
• Turnkey and On-Site Installation Services Full project-managed turnkey services for tank and environmental system installations, from simple offloading and positioning of tanks through complete project management, design, installation, and commissioning.
• Tank Inspection Services Comprehensive tank tests and detailed reports for plastic and composite tanks, delivered through subsidiary Tank Inspections Ltd using UltraAnalytix non-destructive inspection technology that allows inspection while tanks remain in process without drain down or confined space entry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ammonia removal from process water reduced by up to 75%, enabling water recycling
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Colloide Engineering SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Forbes supplied tanks based on Innatank range for Colloide's 'plug & play' skid mounted package for septicity dosing at pumping stations.
• VerdErg Renewable EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Forbes fabricated unique pipe sections (2.4m diameter, 18m length) in dual laminate construction for VETT (Venturi-Enhanced Turbine Technology) hydropower system. Described as world's first GRP duct design for this application.
• EKGTAminorOthers · 1 January 2018Training scheme provider for fabrication apprentices at Kelso factories. Programme has been successfully run since 2006.
• Active RenewablesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2014Contractor who installed 205kW solar panel system at Forbes Crimplesham site (820 ground mounted panels). Also installed solar at Kelso site.
• The Pall Ring CompanyminorOthersSister company of Forbes Group. Specializes in manufacture of pall rings and packing media for industrial applications. Operates injection moulding facility with 7 BOY moulding machines running 24/7. Has increased output of AstraPAK media through new moulding machine investment.
• Tank Inspections LtdminorOthersSpin-off company from Forbes Technologies Ltd. Highly experienced in inspection of tanks in plastics and composites. UK licensee for UltraAnalytix non-destructive tank inspection system. Website: tankinspections.co.uk

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Assmann Corporation: US-based manufacturer of rotationally moulded polyethylene storage tanks, IBC totes, and chemical containment systems. A direct peer with overlapping chemical storage and bulk tank applications, competing for similar industrial process and water treatment contracts.
• Anguil Environmental Systems: US-based global manufacturer of industrial air pollution control systems including regenerative thermal oxidizers, scrubbers, and carbon adsorption systems. Directly comparable to Forbes' environmental technology portfolio for industrial fume, VOC, and odour control applications across chemical and process industries.
• Norwesco: One of North America's largest manufacturers of rotationally moulded polyethylene tanks for above-ground and underground chemical, water, and agricultural storage. A direct peer in custom industrial plastic tank manufacturing with overlapping chemical and water utility end-markets.
• Balmoral Group: Scotland-based manufacturer of composite (GRP), steel, and aluminium storage tanks and vessels for oil & gas, water, and industrial markets. A direct competitor to Forbes in custom composite tank fabrication, with overlapping chemical and water treatment customer segments.
• Poly Processing Company: US-based specialist manufacturer of rotationally moulded cross-linked polyethylene tanks for industrial chemical and water storage. A directly comparable peer in the custom chemical storage tank market with similar materials focus (HDPE) and turnkey installation offerings.
• Snyder Industries: US-based manufacturer of custom rotationally moulded and fabricated polyethylene tanks for industrial chemical and agricultural applications. A directly comparable peer with similar custom-engineered thermoplastic tank offerings and a broad product line spanning small to very large capacities.
• Enduramaxx: UK-based manufacturer of rotationally moulded polyethylene and GRP tanks for industrial, agricultural, and commercial chemical/water storage. A direct UK competitor to Forbes' thermoplastic and bunded tank ranges, with overlapping application segments and a similar custom-fabrication model.
• Containment Solutions: US-based manufacturer of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) and composite underground/aboveground storage tanks for fuel, chemical, and water applications. Directly comparable to Forbes' dual laminate and GRP tank offerings, with overlapping materials expertise and custom fabrication approach.
• Croll Reynolds: US-based designer and manufacturer of air pollution control and gas treatment equipment including packed-bed wet scrubbers, venturi scrubbers, and stripping towers. A directly comparable peer to Forbes' environmental technology business (SB scrubbers, wet scrubbers, stripping towers, degassing towers) for VOC, particulate, and odour control applications.

Broad incumbents

• Kingspan Group: Ireland-headquartered global building solutions provider with significant water and environmental tank product lines through Kingspan Water & Energy. A broader incumbent offering tank products as one part of a much wider portfolio across insulation, envelopes, and infrastructure - overlapping Forbes' water storage and environmental segments but with very different scale and vertical integration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forbes_group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forbes-technologies-ltd

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Forbes