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  3. Over 125 years of history

Over 125 years of Furse history

To provide needed solutions for over 125 years is truly a great achievement, but to do it in a century that has seen such unprecedented technological change is remarkable. Yet through all that the past century could throw at it, ABB's Furse® Earthing & Lightning Protection solutions have remained a constant force in an unpredictable world. 

It started in 1893 when William Joseph Furse acquired the premises and steeplejacking business of Joshua Till on Burton Street in Nottingham. Starting with one employee, Mr. Furse improved and expanded the business. Recognizing at an early stage the growing importance of electricity, he diversified into electrical installation, and opened a workshop in Goldsmith Place for the manufacture of switchgear and components. 
The next seven years to the turn of the century saw further development into a multi-disciplined engineering business, adding lift and theatre equipment manufacturing and installation to its existing activities.

The first quarter of the new century saw further growth, as electrical installation subsidiaries in Manchester and London were opened, as well as a second steeplejacking branch also in Manchester. The company was incorporated in 1912 as W J Furse & Co Ltd with the founder as chairman, and his sons W F Furse and H J Furse as directors.

In 1926 Furse Wholesale Ltd was set up as a subsidiary of the main company, to handle trade sales of electrical equipment.

A new era for the Furse brand

In 1998 Furse became a part of the Thomas & Betts corporation and then in 2012, Thomas & Betts was acquired by ABB - a leading global engineering company, that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. With a history of excellence of its own stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by 144,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.

Today, the Furse name remains as a tribute to its founder, continuing to be synonymous with innovative electrical engineering and quality Earthing & Lightning Protection solutions.

The Furse Total Solution incorporates customer needs for earthing and lightning protection, including structural lightning protection systems, earthing for lightning protection, power and telecommunications systems, transient overvoltage protection and customer project consultations, technical guidance and system design.

Furse delivers the most complete and effective protection against lightning and earth fault current risk, both safeguarding life and ensuring continuous, normal operation of electrical and electronic systems. Furse continues to reinforce their commitment to both quality and service, providing solutions which deliver safety and protection of people, structures and electrical services within the built environment.