Our History

We're proud of our 75-year history as one of the UK's longest-established industrial door manufacturers

In the 75 years we've been in business, we've made an impact throughout the UK, Europe and the world.

1946

Established Norman Hart Newcastle Limited manufacturing awnings and sunblinds

1946

1955

Officially incorporated with customs house

1955

1960

Moved from the old property in Scotswood Road to Westerhope

1960

1969

Doug Hart started to manage the business

1969

1970

Purchased one acre site at Westerhope and a purpose built factory with two overhead cranes to manufacture industrial shutters and security products

1970

1980

Original Speedor developed for waste stations and further speedor design pursued

1980

1980

Industrial roller shutters division ‘Hart Industrial Doors’ created

1980

1983

Speedor Super received international patent and the brand Speedor was created

1983

1989

Agreement with USA door company for Speedor manufacture

1989

1993

Extended Speedor model range

1993

1996

Introduction of the Firebrand fire resistant roller shutter tested to BS standards 4 hour resistance

1996

1998

Changed name to Hart Door Systems to reflect the evolving range of doors and expansion to a 12,000 square foot manufacturing facility

1998

2008

Dubai Metro 115 Insulated Roller Shutters

2008

2010

Fire test completed in United labs, Chicago lab UL10b/NFPA80 to USA standards

2010

2011

London 2012 Olympic Stadium 21 Fire resistant shutters
World first fire test – Complete conveyor fire roller shutter assembly mounted on to two conveyor systems to seal an opening and fire tested to UL10b fire standards.
Production space extended and combined office facility 6000sq ft

2011

2012

50 Nissan Battery Plant specialist conveyor doors designed and installed, Largest individual project to date 174 Fire shutters for Jeddah

2012

2013

Developed the Speedor Cleanroom high speed door for cleanroom environments

2013

2014

Designed The Terrorscreen LPS 1271 SR1-4 range of security roller shutters.  Successfully installed on Nuclear project extending to £1M in sales over project life

2014

2015

Speedor Twinblade product developed. Orders fulfilled for large nuclear site, Olympic Stadium Transformation to Queen Elizabeth Park 50 Security and fire shutters

2015

2016

Speedor Storm product developed for waste sites

2016

2020

Nick Hart takes on Managing Director role from Doug Hart.
Covid-19 strikes, creation of split shift system and protection measures, full production maintained.
A hugely successful year in attaining large export projects, with 44 Speedor Storm doors ordered for Moscow projects, 60 doors in Helsinki project, 51 in Kuwait and various projects in Hong Kong.

2020

2021

Covid-19 continues to grip the UK domestic market with output halved.
Developed the Speedor Lite entry level door due to demand for a lower cost high speed door.
World first: Development and testing of a high wind resistant “Typhoon Door” to 5050 pascals providing strong sales in Hong Kong market.

2021