Franklin Hodge
Franklin Hodge Industries Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of liquid storage tanks, cooling towers, and grain silos serving commercial, industrial, and residential customers across 48 countries through its Franklin Hodge, Carter Environmental, and Brice-Baker divisions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersHereford, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Franklin Hodge does
Franklin Hodge Industries Ltd is a UK-based industrial equipment manufacturer founded in 1973 and headquartered in Hereford, with a manufacturing facility in Birmingham operated through its wholly-owned subsidiary Carter Environmental. The company operates three group divisions — Franklin Hodge (liquid storage tanks), Carter Environmental (cooling towers), and Brice-Baker (grain silos) — and serves commercial, industrial, and residential customers across 48 countries, with 21,000 projects completed and an installed base of approximately 750 customers over a 50+ year operating history.
The tank portfolio comprises cylindrical Firestore® and Liquistore® systems, rectangular sectional Firetainer® and Liquitainer® systems, and space-efficient Tritainer® configurations, all constructed from hot-dip galvanised steel panels with internal membrane liners. Cooling tower products include the Carter Environmental SAN and BUC series (direct-drive, stainless steel) and WABC closed-circuit adiabatic coolers, with the legacy Visco Cooling Towers brand integrated following a 2003 acquisition. The firm has developed proprietary ROV submersible camera and drone-based inspection technology enabling internal and external tank surveys without draining tanks or requiring confined space entry. Products carry LPCB (LPS 1276 Issue 2.0), FM Global, WRAS, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, EN 1090, Constructionline Gold, Achilles UVDB Silver, and SafeContractor certifications.
The business model is sales-led and project-based, generating revenue across five streams: tank sales, cooling tower sales and refurbishment, silo sales and services, tank survey services (ROV and drone), and maintenance/refurbishment services. Pricing is delivered through custom quotations based on specifications, capacity, certification requirements, and installation scope, with multi-year contracts supporting turnkey delivery from design through installation. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales with a recruited distributor network, complemented by a web-based tank capacity calculator and content marketing funnel.
Franklin Hodge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Franklin Hodge
- Legal name
- Franklin Hodge Industries Ltd
- Website
- https://franklinhodge.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Franklin Hodge Industries Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of liquid storage tanks, cooling towers, and grain silos serving commercial, industrial, and residential customers across 48 countries through its Franklin Hodge, Carter Environmental, and Brice-Baker divisions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Franklin Hodge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hereford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Franklin Hodge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tank Sales: Manufacture and sale of water storage tanks including Firestore®, Liquistore®, Firetainer®, Liquitainer®, and Tritainer ranges for fire protection, drinking water, and process water applications.
- Cooling Tower Sales and Refurbishment: Sale and refurbishment of Carter Environmental cooling towers including SAN, BUC, and WABC series. Manufacturing from Birmingham facility.
- Silo Sales and Services: Brice-Baker silos for grain storage, including inspection and refurbishment services.
- Survey Services: Tank survey services including ROV camera inspections, drone inspections, and written reports. ISO 9001:2015 certified inspections carried out by tank manufacturers.
- Maintenance and Refurbishment Services: Tank refurbishment services, cooling tower refurbishment, and ongoing maintenance for tanks, silos, and cooling towers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation based on project requirements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Franklin Hodge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Franklin Hodge designs, manufactures, and installs site-assembled liquid storage tanks (cylindrical and sectional galvanised steel tanks with internal membrane liners) for fire protection, drinking water, and process water applications. Through its subsidiaries Carter Environmental and Brice-Baker, it produces cooling towers and grain storage silos, and provides ROV/drone-based tank survey, maintenance, and refurbishment services across 48 countries.
Product overview
Franklin Hodge is an industrial equipment manufacturer offering liquid storage tanks, cooling towers, and grain silos through three main divisions: Franklin Hodge (tanks), Carter Environmental (cooling towers), and Brice-Baker (silos). The tank portfolio includes cylindrical Firestore® and Liquistore® products alongside rectangular sectional Firetainer® and Liquitainer® systems, all featuring galvanised steel construction with internal membrane liners. The company also acquired the Visco Cooling Tower brand in 2003, now integrated under Carter Environmental. Supporting the product lines are inspection services using ROV and drone technology, comprehensive maintenance and refurbishment programs, and a web-based tank capacity calculator. Products are certified to LPCB, FM Global, WRAS, and ISO 9001:2015 standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Carter Environmental: Cooling towers engineered for superior performance and sustainability, serving critical sites in the UK and globally. Products include SAN and BUC Series, WABC closed-circuit coolers, and legacy Visco cooling towers.
- Brice-Baker
- Firestore
- Firetainer
- Liquistore
- Liquitainer
- Tritainer
Products and services
- Firestore® Cylindrical Fire Protection Tank
Quantifiable outcome
- ROV inspections eliminate tank draining costs and downtime
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Franklin Hodge
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Franklin Hodge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Franklin Hodge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Visco Cooling TowerscoreIn June 2003, Carter Environmental (part of Franklin Hodge) acquired the assets, goodwill, and product range of Visco Cooling Towers. All manufacturing was relocated to Carter Environmental's Birmingham facility, ensuring continuity of product quality and service while merging Visco's established designs with Carter's engineering capabilities.
- Carter EnvironmentalcoreCarter Environmental is a group company under Franklin Hodge, specializing in cooling tower manufacturing. They produce SAN, BUC, and WABC series cooling towers from their Birmingham facility. Carter Environmental acquired Visco Cooling Towers assets in June 2003, expanding their product range.
- Brice-BakercoreBrice-Baker is a group company under Franklin Hodge, specializing in grain storage silos. Known for robust construction and innovative design providing dependable grain storage solutions.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Franklin Hodge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sukup Manufacturing: US-based manufacturer of grain storage bins, silos, dryers and material handling equipment. Direct competitor to Brice-Baker silos in agricultural and commercial grain storage, though operating at much larger scale.
- Permastore: Manufacturer of glass-fused-to-steel tanks for potable water, wastewater, fire protection and industrial liquids. Directly competes with Franklin Hodge in liquid storage tanks, particularly where durability and corrosion resistance are key selling points.
- Balmoral Tanks: UK-based manufacturer of sectional steel and glass-fused-to-steel water storage tanks for fire suppression, potable water and process water. Directly comparable to Franklin Hodge in tank product, customer base (UK commercial and industrial), and regulatory positioning (LPCB/FM approvals).
Emerging players
- Enduramaxx: UK manufacturer of plastic and steel liquid storage tanks for water, chemical and agricultural applications. Partial overlap with Franklin Hodge's rectangular sectional tanks, with a focus on modular and smaller-capacity products.
Broad incumbents
- Brock Grain Systems: Global manufacturer of grain storage bins, silos, dryers and handling equipment under the GSI and Brock brands. Comparable to Brice-Baker silos in agricultural storage, with broader global footprint.
- EVAPCO: Manufacturer of adiabatic, evaporative and dry cooling solutions for HVAC, industrial and refrigeration applications. Comparable to Carter Environmental's WABC closed-circuit coolers and SAN/BUC series, with significantly larger global reach.
- Baltimore Aircoil Company: Global leader in heat transfer and cooling tower technology serving HVAC, industrial process, and refrigeration markets. Direct competitor to Carter Environmental in cooling towers, with deeper R&D and global service network.
- SPX Cooling Technologies: Global manufacturer of evaporative and adiabatic cooling towers for HVAC, power, and industrial process cooling. A direct competitor to Carter Environmental cooling towers but at much larger global scale and with a broader product portfolio.
- HAMON Group: Global engineering and equipment supplier focused on cooling systems, heat exchangers and air quality for power and industrial markets. Comparable to Carter Environmental's industrial cooling tower offering but serving larger-scale power and process plant customers.
- CST Industries: One of the largest global manufacturers of bolted and welded steel storage tanks for water, oil and dry bulk applications. Overlaps with Franklin Hodge in fire protection and process water tanks but operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Franklin Hodge social profiles
Digital presenceFranklin Hodge compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance14 records
Franklin Hodge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Franklin Hodge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Franklin Hodge subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Franklin Hodge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Franklin Hodge 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 Franklin Hodge
What does Franklin Hodge do?
Franklin Hodge designs, manufactures, and installs site-assembled liquid storage tanks (cylindrical and sectional galvanised steel tanks with internal membrane liners) for fire protection, drinking water, and process water applications. Through its subsidiaries Carter Environmental and Brice-Baker, it produces cooling towers and grain storage silos, and provides ROV/drone-based tank survey, maintenance, and refurbishment services across 48 countries.
Is Franklin Hodge a public or private company?
Franklin Hodge is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Franklin Hodge founded?
Franklin Hodge was founded in 1974. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Franklin Hodge based?
Franklin Hodge is headquartered in Hereford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Franklin Hodge make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tank Sales are the primary driver. The others are cooling Tower Sales and Refurbishment, silo Sales and Services, survey Services and maintenance and Refurbishment Services.
Who are Franklin Hodge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sukup Manufacturing, Permastore and Balmoral Tanks. Enduramaxx is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Brock Grain Systems, EVAPCO, Baltimore Aircoil Company, SPX Cooling Technologies, HAMON Group and CST Industries.
Does Franklin Hodge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Franklin Hodge.