On 23 September 2024, English manufacturer OWS Fire Rated joined the Belgian Haerens Group. With the acquisition of the UK leader in high-security glazed joinery, Haerens Group and its entity Eribel are strengthening their position to become the benchmark in the UK market for integrity only and fire-rated, glazed doors, fixed screens, frames and curtain walls. 

A perfect partnership with shared goals 

Haerens Group, a long-established family company based in Ghent, Belgium, with 300 employees, 20,000+ m² of production space at several sites, and sales of € 70 million, will strengthen OWS Fire Rated with the product offering of its subsidiary Eribel. 

OWS Fire rated, a family-owned company founded in 1996 by Matthew Potter and Alan Williams, employs 50 people on a 2,500 m² production site and achieved a turnover of 9 million pounds in 2023, will be able to broaden its range of products and services by integrating Eribel portfolio of steel and wooden fire rated and security products. 

The good news for OWS customers is that the company will continue to operate independently, with Matthew Potter still at the helm. They’ll continue to offer their full range of aluminium solutions while exploring the possibility of introducing Eribel’s steel and wooden products in the future. Haerens Group will offer its full support to accelerate OWS’ growth in the UK market. 

Steven De Tollenaere, CEO of Haerens Group says “we are very impressed with the organization Matthew & Alan have created. We feel a very strong cultural fit with Haerens Group & Eribel. We are looking forward to working together with Matthew & Alan in order support OWS Fire Rated continue to deliver its high quality solutions to its customers while adding Eribel’s product portfolio to its offering over time”. 

Matthew Potter, Director of OWS Fire rated says “This is a really exciting event for OWS.  Becoming part of the Haerens Group will unlock new opportunities and accelerate our growth allowing us to provide our valued customers with new products and solutions.  The cultural fit is perfect with a common ethos and shared values.  We would like to thank the amazing people who have made OWS the success it is today and enabled this fantastic new chapter in our story”. 

Alan Williams, further comments saying “I'm delighted that Haerens Group are partnering with OWS.  Since starting the business, we have worked with some fantastic people that have helped with its growth and it will be great to see the company take on new challenges with Haerens Group”.