Adrenaline rush for region’s adventure engineers
A BINGLEY-BASED engineering company – which creates adventure installations for the likes of LEGOLAND, Center Parcs and many more – is all set for another “bumper year” after seeing an increase in the popularity of such experiences.
After more than 15 years in business, Hangfast is enjoying rapid growth as it sets up sites across the UK and looks to take on more projects internationally.
With a zipline planned for Oman, a climbing wall and cave set for a Center Parcs in France, a traverse wall to be installed in Malaysia and quotes for larger schemes in China, 2017 is an exciting time for the firm.
Founder and director of Hangfast, John Beers said: “From small beginnings many years ago, we grew steadily, until the last couple of years where things have definitely exploded.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to buy our own premises where we manufacture everything – so we’ve got the security of owning our own property, from that it’s given us a springboard to increase the amount of staff.
“So we’re growing – growing staff, growing products, one of our big plans is to go further into Europe and worldwide, we’ve got quotes for multi activity centres – we’re looking to go from small individual products to larger schemes this year.”
The firm are also working closer to home finishing off Europe’s first flight tower in Lancaster this week. The 71m adventure installation is a multi-level outdoor tower, combining various Hangfast products into a single installation, offering climbing, zip lining and free falling all in one structure.
John said: “’The Drop’ is a free fall device that drops you half the way and catches you nice and progressively so you land on your feet gently at the bottom of the tower. From this first tower we’re hoping to be able to market the product to the rest of the UK.”
The flight tower is just one of 15 sites constructed by Hangfast last year, and with six structures already on the books for 2017, the firm is expecting further growth of the company and the adventure industry.
