Pearl Window Systems founded
30 November: Jeff Walsh founds Pearl Window Systems Limited with an initial order book of 12 frames, manufacturing Profile 22.
First team members join
6 September: Kelly Barlow becomes Pearl's first employee (now Head of Finance). Anthony Holliday joins as QC Inspector (now a Director).
20 employees; production capacity 500 frames per week.
Award-winning growth
New Small Business Of The Year – Bolton and Bury.
New Fabricator of the Year – Glass and Glazing Awards, London.
First major move
Relocation from a 4,500 sq ft startup unit to an 18,000 sq ft facility on Wingates Industrial Estate.
Future Director joins
Steven French joins as a trainee fabricator (now a Director).
Duraflex and automation begin
April: Move to Unit 14 Wingates – a 40,000 sq ft facility manufacturing Duraflex. First £600k investment into automation; 50 employees; 1,000 frames per week.
Second saw centre
Further investment in automation with the arrival of Saw Centre No. 2.
70 employees; 1,250 frames per week.
Continued automation
More automated development across the factory.
85 employees; 1,375 frames per week.
First major charity ride
Charity bike ride from the Eiffel Tower (Paris) to Blackpool Tower, raising £54k.
95 employees; 1,625 frames per week.
Doors unit and paperless production
Unit 4 opens to manufacture PVC Doors only. First Urban 800 automated cleaning and welding line. Barcoded scanning station introduced – paperless production facility.
Charity ride for cancer research
Overnight bike tour around the perimeter of Anglesey, raising £10k for cancer research.
98 employees; 1,925 frames per week.
Steady growth
101 employees; 1,950 frames per week.
Liniar introduced
Introduction of Liniar alongside Duraflex; efficiency improvements increase capacity.
Charity Coast‑to‑Coast ride (Robin Hood to Ulverston) in memory of Walsh Senior, raising £34k for the local Hospice.
Full Liniar conversion and traceability
Two further machine centres installed. Fully converted to Liniar as sole supply.
Barcoded staff for full traceability of productivity and quality.
Charity ride Bolton → Land's End & back, raising £36k for Children's Hospice.
112 employees; 2,310 frames per week.
Fifth machining centre
Further automated investment including the fifth machining centre.
New Pearl logo launched.
132 employees; 3,060 frames per week.
New brand identity
Initial research begins on extended warranties and homeowner guides.
136 employees; 3,180 frames per week.
The Signature Collection & CORGI compliance
Pearl presents The Signature Collection and extended warranties concept to CORGI Fenestration. First UK fabricator to hold its own building compliance through CORGI Fenestration, linked to The Signature Collection. Bespoke Foil Window Production facility opens in Units 2 & 3. 141 employees; 3,330 frames per week.
Seven machine centres
Further automated investment in the Foil factory; total of seven machine centres across three factories.
148 employees; 3,540 frames per week.
Trade Super User Scheme
Launch of the Trade Super User Scheme, enabling Trade Counters to offer The Signature Collection with extended warranties and CORGI Fenestration approval.
147 employees; 3,510 frames per week.
New leadership and New Build Division
Management buy‑out: Anthony Halliday and Steven French become joint Managing Directors; Jeff Walsh becomes CEO.
Installation of a 3rd Urban 800 line including automated welding lines.
New Build Division opens and grows rapidly. 7th Supercut6 Machining Centre invested.
Launch of SENTRY, Intelligent‑Ready Windows and Doors. 157 employees; 3,810 frames per week.
Record capacity
163 employees; production capacity reaches 4,000 frames per week.
Team grows to 220
Pearl's workforce reaches 220 employees, supporting continued national growth.
New premises and 30 years of Pearl
New premises in Wigan and Barnsley; 30‑year anniversary celebrated. Fleet expands to around 60 vehicles; new Pearl logos introduced. The Signature Collection and The Vault software launched. Full barcoded app deployed for end‑to‑end traceability across all sites, including Yorkshire.