HISTORY
PRECISION ENGINEERING SINCE 1816
BIZ Engineering is part of the family owned and operated BIZ Group Holdings, also comprising BIZ Karts and BIZ Power Tools. The company can trace its origins way back to 1816. Detailed below are some of the milestones of the business and photo’s from our archive...
1816 – THE BEGINNING
The family business was originally formed as a builders merchants. Set up on commercial road, Shoreditch by the Smith family in 1816, just after the Napoleonic War. The business was run by four brothers selling predominantly oil and nails. It continued to trade in Shoreditch, very successfully, for almost 50 years.
1864 – THE BUSINESS MOVES TO STOKE NEWINGTON
The Builders merchants was forced to relocate to make way for a new railway line to Chelmsford. The business was re-sited on Mathias Road, Stoke Newington where it continued to prosper for another 50 years.
1917 – BIZ BEGINS
The Builders Merchants continued to expand taking over a number of properties on Mathias Road. The large white building shown in these clippings was one addition and it was on the middle floor of this building that the company Builders Iron & Zincworks was started. It was originally started to manufacture and sell zinc gutters to the construction trade.
1944 - SPITFIRE DROP TANKS
BIZ Engineering has a rich history of sheet metal manufacture and during world war II was responsible for manufacturing Spitfire drop tanks. The photographs shown are clippings produced in 1944 that show war-time production on the BIZ factory floor and a finished drop tank fitted between the under carriage of a spitfire.
1960 - CLADDING THE BLACKWALL TUNNEL
In 1960 work began on the new eastern Blackwall Tunnel. BIZ Engineering was contracted to manufacture the wall cladding panels and the tunnel was successfully opened in 1967. The photographs include some of the management team standing in front of the tunnel entrance prior to completion.
1970 - THAMES BARRIER ROOFING
In the late 1970’s BIZ Engineering was contracted to manufacture and fit the terne-coated stainless steel roofing for the Thames Barrier. The panels were formed on-site in the middle of the Thames before being craned into position. This was a precision engineering project manufacturing components to be used in a demanding environment.
1989 – BIZ MOVES TO ENFIELD
Following a fire which broke out at Laycock Street the company decided to relocate to Edison Road, Enfield. The 43,000 square foot factory was custom built with guidance from the directors. The factory is perfectly suited to accommodate the business and sits just inside the M25.
1991 - BIZ POWERTOOLS IS FOUNDED
A new part of the BIZ Group was founded by director Graham Smith. BIZ Powertools stock and distribute a range of the leading brands in power tools and accessories throughout the UK. The company operates from Enfield and holds stock in a dedicated warehouse in the midlands.
1994 - BIZ KARTS IS FOUNDED
BIZ Karts was set up in 1994 when Mike Smith, one of the directors of the BIZ Group, met with some of the leading figures in the UK Karting industry. They were looking for a new company to house their ambitions and provide the UK Karting market with a friendly service that customers could trust. Over the past 25 years BIZ Karts has become one of the leading go-kart manufacturers in the world.
2001 – BIZ MOVES INTO SHOPFITTING
BIZ began supplying (both directly and indirectly) a number of major high street stores with checkouts and other point-of-sale equipment. Over the last two decades BIZ has manufactured items for Tesco, Boots, Waitrose, Morrisons and Carphone Warehouse, among others.
NOW
BIZ Engineering is at the forefront of precision engineering, constantly investing in the latest technology and developing our manufacturing processes. The company has diversified and now supplies metalwork for a range of sectors including food, construction, electrical & automotive. We very much look forward to growing the business further and the new challenges ahead for BIZ Engineering.
