Bilco

What Bilco does

Bilco UK Ltd is a wholly owned Bury St Edmunds-based subsidiary of Quanex (formerly Tyman Plc / ERA) that designs, manufactures, and distributes specialty building access products for the UK and Irish commercial construction markets. Its core offering comprises aluminium roof access hatches (including the S-50TB, E-50TB, GS-50TB and CS-50TB series plus the patent-pending S-50TB thermal-break variant), Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators (ESW-50REM, UDF-50REM, SKY-1M sliding skylight), aluminium floor access doors (J-AL/JD-AL drainage, TER/TRD architectural, K/KD interior), BS 4211-compliant fixed vertical ladders and retractable ladder options, and a complementary safety-products line including the registered LadderUp™ safety post, Bilguard railings, and roof edge protection.

The business operates a specification-driven, enterprise go-to-market model: architects, building services engineers and consultants are addressed pre-tender through RIBA CPD-accredited seminars (over 4,000 specifiers reached in 2023), BIM and CAD libraries on NBS Source and the National BIM Library, NBS specifications, and RIBA Product Selector listings, with Technical Account Managers and a Sales Specification Manager providing direct technical advice and quotation-based pricing on a per-project basis. Products are sold under bespoke quotations determined by size, hardware (e.g. stainless 316, keyed locks, powder coating, fire rating) and minimum order quantity for custom finishes, generating multi-year specification-to-procurement revenue cycles rather than transactional pricing.

Together with acquired sub-brands Howe Green (floor access covers, linear drainage, acquired March 2017) and Profab Access (wall and ceiling access panels), Bilco UK presents a consolidated 'Access 360 – Safe Access All Areas' proposition to specifiers and contractors in healthcare, education, heritage, transportation infrastructure and commercial developments, supported by ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditation (Lloyd's Register), Constructionline Approved status, NFRC membership, CE marking, and compliance with BS EN 12207/12208/12210, BS 9999 and EN 12101-2. Channel reach was extended in November 2023 via a Crossflow partnership covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the business now operates under the global backing of Quanex while retaining Managing Director James Fisher as the operational leader.

Name

Bilco

Legal name

Bilco UK Ltd

Website

https://bilcouk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bilco UK Ltd is a Bury St Edmunds-based manufacturer of aluminium roof access hatches, smoke vents, floor access doors, fixed ladders, and safety products, sold via architectural specification to UK and Irish commercial construction projects in healthcare, education, heritage and infrastructure sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Products and Construction Materials

NAICS

Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323)

SIC

Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro primary industry

Access Panels, Hatches & Specialty Openings (IMADAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Louvers, Vents & Architectural Grilles (IMADAIAM), Outdoor Stairs & Ramps (Deck/Fence-Related) Installation/Repair (HSAIAJAK), Railings, Stairs & Accessibility Features (Outdoor) (HSAPALAL)

Keywords

• Roof access hatches
• Smoke ventilation products
• Floor access doors
• Fixed vertical ladders
• Construction safety products

Headquarters

HQ city

Bury Saint Edmunds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Roof Access Hatches: Manufacture and sale of aluminium roof access hatches including ladder access, companionway access, service stair access, and equipment access variants. Products sold with various options including security features, safety posts, and railings.
2. Floor Access Products: Floor access doors and covers including drainage and non-drainage options, fire-rated variants, and architectural flooring compatible doors. Includes special application products.
3. Smoke Vents: Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators (NSHEVs) including single leaf, double leaf, sliding skylight, and acoustical variants. Compliant with Construction Products Regulation 305/2011.
4. Safety Products: Ladder posts, roof hatch railings, and roof edge protection products to complement core access solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bilco manufactures and supplies specialty access products for the commercial construction market, including aluminium roof access hatches, Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators (NSHEVs), floor access doors and covers, fixed vertical ladders, and complementary safety products. Products are specified by architects and consultants during building design and procured by contractors and facilities managers, with full compliance to British and European standards and CE marking.

Product overview

Bilco is a manufacturer of specialty roof access and floor access products for the commercial construction market. The product portfolio includes multiple roof access hatch variants (S-50TB, E-50TB, GS-50TB, CS-50TB, VersaMount) offering ladder access, companionway access, and skylight configurations; Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators (NSHEVs) including ESW-50REM and UDF-50REM single and double leaf smoke vents plus the SKY-1M sliding skylight smoke vent; floor access doors (J-AL/JD-AL drainage doors, TER/TRD architectural floor doors, K/KD interior doors) and floor access covers; fixed vertical ladders (BL series) with safety cage and guard rail options; and safety products including LadderUp Safety Posts, Bilguard Railings, and Roof Edge Protection. The company also offers related brands Howe Green (floor access covers) and Profab (wall/ceiling access) under the Access 360 umbrella for comprehensive 'Safe Access All Areas' solutions. All products are ISO 9001 and 14001 accredited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Howe Green: Floor access covers, wall and ceiling access panels, and linear drainage products
• Profab Access

Products and services

• Roof Access Hatches Aluminium roof access hatches providing safe permanent roof access for maintenance and equipment. Available in multiple configurations including ladder access, companionway access, and service stair access.
• S-50TB Ladder Access Roof Hatch Ladder access roof hatch with 915x760mm opening, thermally broken cover and frame, compression spring operators for one-hand operation, automatic hold-open arm, and overlapping cover design for weather tightness. Achieves U-value 0.278 W/m²K.
• GS-50TB Skylight Roof Hatch Roof access hatch with added skylight benefit featuring polycarbonate dome cover for natural daylight. Aluminium construction with easy one-hand operation.
• S-50VMTB VersaMount Replacement Roof Hatch Replacement roof hatch enabling installation onto existing curbs without re-roofing. Features low-profile curb with built-in flange and apron, and anchor clip system for fast secure weathertight installation. Ideal for Listed Buildings.
• SKY-1M Sliding Skylight Smoke Vent Sliding skylight automatic smoke vent and roof access hatch with polycarbonate dome for natural daylight. Features electric actuator, rigid PVC frame with external metal profiles, 1x1.5m clear opening, CE marked.
• ESW-50REM Single Leaf Smoke Vent Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilator (NSHEV) for rapid evacuation of smoke and heat in fire events. Can also provide passive ventilation and enable roof access with fixed staircase.
• UDF-50REM Double Leaf Smoke Vent Standard size double leaf smoke vent for natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilation.
• J-AL/JD-AL Floor Access Doors with Drainage Exterior floor access doors with channel drainage for applications where water or liquid infiltration is a concern. Constructed of 6mm diamond pattern plate, 300psf loading, with anti-corrosion hardware. Protected by U.S. Patents 6,041,553 and 6,260,305.
• TER/TRD Floor Access Doors Non-drainage floor access doors for architectural flooring surfaces. Pan-type cover accepts ceramic tile, hardwood, granite up to 25mm thick. 150psf pedestrian loading.
• K/KD Interior Floor Access Doors 150PSF interior floor access doors for pedestrian-only exterior access where water infiltration is not a concern.
• BL Fixed Vertical Ladder Aluminium fixed vertical ladder for floor to ceiling heights of 2-6m. Manufactured to BS4211: 2005 + A1: 2008. Available with or without safety cage.
• BL-WH Fixed Ladder with Safety Cage Aluminium fixed vertical ladder with safety cage for heights 2-6m. Safety cage designed to sit below Roof Access Hatch at heights above 2.2-3m. Compliant to BS4211: 2005 + A1: 2008.
• BL-WG Fixed Ladder with Safety Cage and Guard Rail Fixed vertical ladder with both safety cage and guard rail for enhanced safety protection.
• Retractable Ladders Retractable ladder options including push-up and rope operation versions for TYPE BL Fixed Vertical Ladders.
• LadderUp Safety Post Safety post for permanent mounting to ladders beneath roof hatches, enabling 3 points of contact at all times as recommended by HSE. LadderUp is a registered trademark of the Bilco company.
• Bilguard Roof Hatch Railings Roof hatch railings for enhanced safety around roof access points.
• Roof Edge Protection Safety products for roof edge protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4000+ architects and specifiers supported with CPD seminars in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CrossflowminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2023Partnership announced November 2023 to extend Bilco UK's offering throughout Ireland, covering both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland markets.
• ERA (part of Tyman Plc)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2017From April 2017, Bilco and Howe Green became part of ERA, another division of Tyman Plc. Bilco Managing Director James Fisher also took on the role of Managing Director of Howe Green, reporting directly into ERA. ERA is a West Midlands company founded in 1838, evolving from locks to window/door hardware and home security systems. Bilco and Howe Green operate as a standalone business with shared values and complimentary product ranges.
• Howe Green LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowe Green Ltd, manufacturers of metal fabricated access covers, was acquired in March 2017 and operates alongside Bilco under the Access 360 brand. Both companies share complimentary product ranges and serve similar markets. Manufacturing and sales operations for Howe Green remain at Ware, Hertfordshire. The companies often appear in the same projects and serve the same customers - architects, specifiers, contractors, and facilities managers.
• Profab (part of Access 360)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfab Access, shown on Bilco website as a related brand under Access 360, provides wall and ceiling access solutions. Featured alongside Bilco and Howe Green brands as part of the Access 360 'Safe Access All Areas' proposition.
• QuanexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilco UK is part of Quanex, a global manufacturing company. The parent relationship provides Bilco with access to broader manufacturing capabilities and distribution networks across building products sector. Parent company provides strategic direction and resources while Bilco maintains its specialist focus on access solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Howe Green: UK sister company under the Access 360 umbrella, manufacturing metal fabricated floor access covers, wall and ceiling access panels, and linear drainage. Directly comparable in customer base (architects, specifiers) and specification-driven sales motion.
• Manthorpe Building Products: UK manufacturer of building products including ventilation, access, and roofing accessories. Comparable in scale, UK focus, specification-channel sales model, and reliance on architectural and contractor relationships.
• Hambleside Danelaw: UK manufacturer of roofing and ventilation products, including dry fix and access solutions. Comparable in serving UK commercial construction through specification channels and dependence on building regulations.
• Profab Access: Acquired sister brand under Access 360 providing wall and ceiling access solutions. Operates in the same architectural access category with overlapping specifier customer base and shared management.
• ACO Access Covers: UK division of ACO offering metal access covers and drainage solutions for commercial construction. Comparable in product category (floor access covers), specifier-channel GTM, and architectural / commercial building end markets.
• Bilco (US): Original Bilco brand founded in the US in 1926 and the parent of Bilco UK. Manufactures the same roof hatches, smoke vents, floor access doors, and ladders for the North American market, sharing underlying IP and product designs with Bilco UK.

Broad incumbents

• Sika UK: UK arm of global construction chemicals and building products firm. Overlaps with Bilco in commercial construction specification and supply, though focused on sealing, bonding, and waterproofing rather than access products.
• Crittall Windows: UK manufacturer of steel windows, doors, and interior partitions. Comparable in metal fabrication heritage, architectural specification-led sales, and presence in heritage / commercial building projects.
• Quanex Building Products: Global parent company of Bilco UK, producing fenestration, cabinetry, and building products. Provides manufacturing scale, distribution, and corporate resources that directly support Bilco UK's operations and strategic direction.
• Kingspan Group: Global building envelope manufacturer offering insulated panels, access solutions, and roofing systems. Overlaps with Bilco in commercial construction and specification channels, but operates at vastly greater scale and broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bilcouk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@access360uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/access360uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bilco-UK-Ltd-106235191615282

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Bilco