Elmdene, the manufacturer of power solutions for the fire and security industry, is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023.
It all began for the business in March 1963 when Dan Bogard purchased Elmdene Investments Limited as an off-the-shelf shell company for his father, Joe and his friend Bill Ward. They quite liked the company name, so they kept it. Elmdene means – the proximity of the site to Elm trees
Joe and Bill had worked together at Plessey Havant and left after a company re-organisation. Both in their forties and still needing an income, they set up as Elmdene. They recognised a gap in the security industry market and grew the business by making door contacts.
By 1988, the company employed eight part-time workers and was profitable. The introduction of Quality Standards (BS5750) led the owners, now at retirement age, to decide to sell the organisation.
In August 1988, Elmdene was purchased by Tony and Celia Earl and a “Topco” was formed and named Elmdene Investments, with the original company becoming Elmdene International. There are strict rules governing the allowance to take an “International” name, but in this case, as 85% of sales were exported, mainly to Europe but some as far as Australia, it was sanctioned.
Elmdene continued successfully under the stewardship of the Earls until 2008 when it was acquired by Potter Electric Signal Company LLC.
Today, Elmdene International employs 59 team members and offers in-house design and engineering capabilities, a projects team, and a dedicated bespoke/OEM division.
