History

The company was founded in July 1950 by John D. Hughes M.B.E. a qualified mechanical engineer and father of the present Managing Director. Activities included the fabrication of pipe work and pressure vessels along with the erection of pipelines and structural steelwork for the chemical and petrochemical industries.

Whilst working on various sites where chemicals were being manufactured, the company's employees became aware of an absence of effective Emergency Shower and Eyebath facilities.


This deficiency was painfully highlighted on several occasions when chemical or other burns were suffered.

Such was the case when a Hughes employee, Charlie Gamble, accidentally stepped into a tank containing a sulphurous mixture, causing burns to his foot and leg. The only decontamination facility on the site was a domestic cast iron bath half full of stagnant, contaminated water!

From these observations the Company began designing and developing a range of Emergency Safety Showers and Eyebaths long before any of the current HSE/COSHH requirements or recommendations. Initially, these Emergency Showers and Eyebaths were rather crude and basic, but with feedback and constructive criticism from users, designs were improved and refinements such as frost protection were included in unit design.

With the steady increase in demand for such equipment, J D Hughes Fabrications Limited was incorporated in September 1968 specifically to manufacture Emergency Shower and Eyebath Equipment. The company soon became the market leader and for the past forty years has been the largest specialist manufacturer of this type of equipment throughout Europe.

Since taking control of the company in the late seventies, Tony D Hughes, son of the founder, and also a qualified mechanical engineer, has brought his own personal touch and engineering expertise to the company and its products. Under his direction all products have been the subject of continual design and development from both functional and aesthetic aspects.

>> Tony Hughes
		“Hughes Safety Showers supply all the major companies requiring Emergency Showers and Eyebaths throughout the U.K. as well as exporting to international clients and distributors in most countries worldwide. The global network of distributors and appointed agents ensures that customers can work locally with people who understand their requirements.” Tony Hughes - Managing Director

With a philosophy of only using the very best materials available, and building each Emergency Shower and Eyebath Unit to the highest achievable standard, Hughes products are widely regarded as the best available on the market with an expected life span that far exceeds that of the nearest rivals.

In 1992, accreditation to BS EN ISO 9002 and later to ISO 9001:2000, was further evidence of the company's commitment to quality. Hughes is currently one of the only companies to manufacture Heated and Insulated Shower/Eyebath units to this standard.

Various innovative products have been developed and produced by the company over the years, including the highly acclaimed 'Portaflex' Decontamination Shower. This Portable Decontamination Unit, is now used by the majority of Fire Brigades throughout the U.K. and a large number of Emergency Services world-wide.
To complement the Portaflex, a comprehensive range of Mass Decontamination Units has been developed for the Emergency Services and the Military, as well as for use by the Chemical, Petrochemical and associated Industries.

To simplify things and to avoid confusion by their customers, the company was renamed, and in 1997 became The J.D. Hughes Group Plc, with the trading company Hughes Safety Showers Ltd becoming a wholly owned subsidiary.

To support increasing business throughout Europe, Hughes Notduschen GmbH was established in Germany in 2000 to handle sales and distribution. This ensures a quick delivery at competitive prices to the growing European safety market.
In 2006 Hughes Notduschen were successful in attaining DVGW certification for over 25 products, confirming compliance to the new DIN EN 15154 (1+2) Standard.

In 2006 two new sales offices were opened to support our growing presence in the respective markets. 
Hughes North America Inc was formed through a joint venture with Sarnia Piping Specialities to provide locally based sales and technical support for customers throughout the USA and Canada and its aim now is to strengthen its market position and build on the initial success of 2006-2007.
Hughes Middle East, operating out of the Sharjah International Free Zone in the UAE was also established to provide valuable technical and commercial support to the company’s local distributors and strengthen Hughes' presence across the Gulf States.

In recognition of the significant and sustained growth in Hughes' export business, the company was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2006, one of the most prestigious awards made to British companies.

Having completely revised and extended their range of products over the past few years, Hughes Safety Showers can also rightfully claim to have the widest selection available anywhere in the world.