Our company was founded in 1977 by Alistair Cook who had been working in the export department of a woodworking machinery manufacturer. He set up 'Cooks Export Services Ltd.' to help small companies export their products but soon found a bigger challenge in designing and manufacturing framing equipment and selling woodworking machinery in the UK. His first office was the bedroom of his daughter Sam and his workshop was the family garage.
Our first design was a hand operated 'side pinner' for joining the frame and this was soon followed by Alistair's first export attempt; a visit to Paris via rail and ferry with the side pinner tucked under one arm and a heavy French dictionary under the other. The trip was a great success with the side pinner enjoying a long life selling in various export markets including France and the USA.
The business soon outgrew the garage and premises in a Transport warehouse were followed by a rented modern industrial unit and then into our first self owned premises, which we occupy today located 3 minutes from Junction 22 on the M1.
The heart of the business has always been in designing new products, using a balance between offering the latest technologies and maintaining the tradition of high quality our customers have come to expect from the Framers Corner brand. We still do the research and design elements of the process here in Leicester, but most of our manufacturing has now been transferred to low cost centres in Asia, where we are able to produce competitively priced, high quality equipment which we supply worldwide.
From an early age Alistairs children were also involved in the busineess. Assembling machines, bookkeeping and helping out at exhibitions in the UK and overseas. The children are now adults, all working in the business and indeed the third generation has already been started.
Our sister company, Charnwood, operates form the sames address and supplies woodworking machinery to both the DIY and professional markets.