Our History
Seward Refrigeration Ltd are one of the UK’s leading independent companies specialising in the design, installation, service and maintenance of industrial and commercial refrigeration systems. Operating over the UK and worldwide, with a wealth of experience held by its founders, directors and employees, the company’s activities are diverse and forward thinking, serving primarily industries which include food processing, cold storage, breweries and beverages, pharmaceuticals, ice cream and dairy and plastic extrusion, as well as chilled distribution centres.
Years of trading
Bob Seward, our current technical director, and technical consultant for a worldwide Blue Chip food manufacturing company established Rock Refrigeration Limited, along with two business partners, in 1966. The business quickly established a strong reputation for reliability and trustworthiness within the industrial and commercial refrigeration sectors.
Within four years of trading, Rock Refrigeration purchased Stacey Cooper and Meighan, at the time a considerably larger company. The two companies merged, operating from the premises of Stacey Cooper and Meighan within the Chorlton area of Manchester. The business quickly expanded, and new, larger industrial premises were purchased in Sale, Manchester. These were to be outgrown within the next five years, leading to the purchase of a tailor-made industrial unit at Newton Heath, Manchester.
Shortly after this move, a decision was made to diversify into the commercial aspect of the refrigeration industry. A distribution agreement was established with Arneg, an Italian refrigeration display manufacturer, leading to a successful commercial venture which included display cabinet sales direct to local refrigeration companies.
Rock Refrigeration now wanted to develop the facility to provide turnkey projects within the cold store industry. To this end, a cold store manufacturing company, Telewig Limited, was formed, providing the means to build free-standing cold rooms for the food industry, and specialised operating clean rooms for the pharmaceutical industry. During this period, Rock Refrigeration’s workforce grew to over 80 employees.
Over subsequent years, Bob Seward purchased the shares of the two original partners, leaving him the sole owner of Rock Refrigeration Limited. The company was then acquired by the Beales Hunter Group, with Bob remaining as managing director for the first three years. He was succeeded by his son Brian Seward, who dedicated himself to the role before he took the step of forming the present company, Seward Refrigeration Limited, in 1993.
