FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can someone from Francis Kirk visit our site to discuss our requirements? And if so, is there any cost or obligation involved?
We have specialist representatives in all the geographies in which we operate, and they are available to visit your site(s), learn more about your product and service needs, and take you through the solutions that best meet your requirements. No charge, and no obligation. Our site visits cover our entire product range – fasteners, fixings, PPE, workwear, cutting tools, hand tools, adhesives, and abrasives. Please don’t hesitate to contact our Business Development Manager, Ian Shaw, to arrange a visit: ian@franciskirk.com / 07483 433518
Does Francis Kirk offer a Kanban system or similar logistical support to ensure I always have adequate stock of the products and components I need?
Yes! At Francis Kirk we’re not just about the products – through our services and solutions, we make resupply, reordering, and logistics effortless for you, too. Our TwinBin feed system automatically takes care of your supply of fasteners, fixings, and C-Class components - including Helicoil, Philidas, Unbrako, Holo-Krome, and Nord-Lock brands – all from your own premises, via our Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) service. Of course, you can also find and order products yourself, in just a few clicks, using the product search and webshop on our homepage, or in person at our trade counter in Manchester, if you’re local!
Does Francis Kirk just sell fasteners?
No, we can supply a wide range of components, including C-Class items, as well as PPE, workwear, cutting tools, hand tools, adhesives, and abrasives. And if you’ve got a special requirement or bespoke request you need help with, or are struggling to fulfil elsewhere, we’re all ears – just get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you.
Does Francis Kirk only supply locally to the North West?
Not at all - Francis Kirk supplies products globally, although we’re of course proud to be a Manchester company with over 150 years’ heritage behind us! If you’d like to enquire about the availability of Francis Kirk products in your country or region, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help. If you’d like to arrange a site visit in your region, so we can assess your requirements and propose suitable solutions, don’t hesitate to contact our Business Development Manager, Ian Shaw:
ian@franciskirk.com / 07483 433518
Is Francis Kirk just a distributor?
No, at Francis Kirk our mission is to optimise the quality, breadth, and accessibility of the fixings, fasteners, and other products and services available to you – and this requires more than a standard distributor model. We manufacture a significant proportion of our offering ourselves, and are trusted by premium global brands to be the sole authorised UK source for their products, including Philidas, Unbrako, Holo-Krome, and others. We’re also a recognised specialist supplier, rather than simply a distributor, to the rail industry, and our Network Rail accreditation reflects this status. At the same time, we offer a wide range of related products for which we have strong commercial relationships with manufacturers globally, meaning we can sell at very competitive market rates.
Can Francis Kirk offer a one-stop-shop for our fastener, tooling, and PPE requirements?
Absolutely – but why stop there? We’re your go-to supplier for workwear, adhesives, and abrasives, too. And thanks to our TwinBin and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) solutions on the fixings and fasteners side of things, we can automatically ensure you never run out of what you need! For all these requirements, simply get in touch with us – we’d love to hear from you.
What cost savings can you offer our business?
We pride ourselves on offering highly competitive cost savings through our combined manufacturing, global sourcing, and exclusivity model – but it doesn’t stop there. From extensive stock holdings in your region and consequent reduction of lead times, to logistical support and resupply automation, to consolidation of your disparate parts suppliers into one single source, we bring so-called ‘soft’ savings to our relationship with you that can actually make a significant difference to the hard numbers!
How quickly can you supply me? Will I have to wait for products to come from abroad?
You need have no fear on this front! We have extensive warehousing and logistical operations both in the UK regions and internationally, so we hold plentiful stock of all our products – fasteners, fixings, PPE, workwear, cutting and hand tools, adhesive, and abrasives. This insulates us from temporary supply chain disruptions and shortages, so you won’t be left waiting and neither will your project or job schedule.
Which business sectors do you supply?
We’re active anywhere where there’s a need for fixings, fasteners, or any other of the products we supply – this includes general engineering, construction, and trade wholesale and retail, amongst others. But we also supply highly specialist engineering disciplines, including rail, and are a Network Rail-accredited supplier.
What accreditations do you hold?
We are certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) for ISO 9001:2015 (Quality) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management). These accreditations demonstrate our commitment to delivering quality to our customers, and minimising the impact of our activities on the environment. We are also accredited by Network Rail for the supply of products for demanding, high-specification engineering applications in the UK rail industry.