The History of Kattsafe
Every company has a story.
Ours began in 1974 with a simple idea, a family business, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities.
Over the decades, that small operation has evolved through innovation, expansion, and a relentless commitment to solving challenges for those working at height.
From our humble beginnings in England to becoming a unified global brand serving customers around the world, each milestone has helped shape who we are today. This is the story of the people, partnerships, and defining moments that built Kattsafe.
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1974: Humble Beginnings
Before Fixfast existed, the business began as Domestic Bulk Supplies, operating from the Lynes family home in Dorking, England.
Originally supplying everyday household goods in bulk, founder Alleyn Lynes soon recognized a growing opportunity in the roofing industry. The business shifted its focus to roofing fasteners, laying the foundation for what would eventually become Fixfast.
1976: The Birth of Fixfast (UK)
By 1976, the business had grown well beyond its beginnings as Domestic Bulk Supplies. An expanding range of roofing and cladding fasteners led to a move into its first dedicated premises at Mount Yard in Dorking, marking the company's first true headquarters. With a growing customer base and a clearer sense of purpose, the business was ready for its next chapter.
On June 17, 1976, it officially changed its name to Fixfast—a milestone that reflected the company's new identity and ambitions for the future.
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1980-82: Expanding the Family Business
The early 1980s marked a period of rapid growth for Fixfast. Simon Lynes joined the business in 1980, followed by his brother Bruce in 1981, strengthening the family business and growing the team to six. As the product range expanded to include roof access equipment such as ladder hoists, the company moved into rented offices on Ranmore Road while continuing to operate from Mount Yard—making regular trips between the two on a Honda Camino.
By 1982, Fixfast had also begun sourcing from new suppliers and developing its own fastener ranges, laying the foundation for the manufacturing expertise that would shape the company's future.
1985: A Brief Stop in the Tractor Business
As the business continued to grow, Fixfast relocated to larger premises in Holmwood. The move also included the purchase of a local tractor business, opening the door to a few new ventures along the way. While the company explored different opportunities, it soon became clear that its future lay elsewhere.
The self-drilling screw continued to drive the business forward, reinforcing the direction that would shape Fixfast for years to come.
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1991: The Launch of DrillFast® and MatchFast® Ranges
By 1991, Fixfast had evolved from distributor to innovator. After years of supplying products for other manufacturers, the company launched its own branded fastener ranges, introducing the DrillFast® and MatchFast® product lines.
Mid-1990s: Investing in Quality
The mid-1990s marked another period of transformation. Fixfast expanded into the specification market by introducing flat roof products from the United States and supplying directly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Around the same time, Ken Lynes joined the business as the third generation of the family, while Fixfast invested in its own testing and technical facilities to take greater control of manufacturing quality.
By the end of the decade, Fixfast had sharpened its focus on roofing fasteners, sealants, and roofing components, creating the clear direction that would fuel future growth.
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2001: Adapting to a Changing Market
As demand continued to grow, Fixfast expanded once again by acquiring additional premises in Crawley. The new facility also became home to an in-house fastener painting operation, allowing the company to provide custom color-matched fasteners for customers.
With the flat roofing market rapidly gaining momentum, Fixfast established a second trading arm, Flat Roofing Supplies, in 2002—allowing the business to better serve both the flat roofing and metal roofing industries.
2008: Moving to America
With a vision to expand internationally, Simon Lynes crossed the Atlantic in 2008 to launch Fixfast USA.
Starting with a small team of fewer than 10 employees in the company's original 6210 facility, the business initially supplied a wide variety of products while establishing its presence in the U.S. market.
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2012: Our Partnership with Sayfa in AU Begins
In 2012, Fixfast USA began working closely with Sayfa Systems in Australia, marking the start of a partnership that would shape the next decade of growth.
Sayfa entered the U.S. market by supplying fixed ladder systems through Fixfast USA, bringing new product capabilities to the North American team and laying the groundwork for a long-term relationship between the two companies.
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2016: Revolutionary Access System
In 2016, a new stair and platform system marked a major step forward for the business.
Designed to make safe access simpler and installation easier, the system helped reshape the access market and sparked the development of even more solutions built around the same idea: maximum safety with minimum fuss.
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2018: Designing the Future with Builda™
The launch of Builda™ marked another step forward in digital innovation.
The online configurator empowered customers to design, configure, and quote complete access systems with greater speed, accuracy, and confidence.
2018: Moving to New 3921 Facility
After a decade of growth, Fixfast USA outgrew its original 6210 facility.
With the team growing to approximately 15–20 employees, the company relocated to a larger building at 3921 Perry Boulevard, creating the space needed to support continued growth and the next phase of its North American journey.
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2024: Unifying Under One Global Brand, Kattsafe
After more than a decade of collaboration, Fixfast USA and Sayfa came together under a single global identity: Kattsafe. The unification brought together decades of expertise, innovation, and manufacturing excellence under one brand—creating a stronger global business with a shared mission to save lives at height.
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2025: Moving to Our 93,000+ sq.ft. Facility
In 2025, the team relocated to a 93,000+ sq. ft. facility at 5199, creating room for expanded manufacturing, warehousing, office space, and a growing workforce of more than 50 employees.
More than a new address, the facility reflects Kattsafe's continued investment in innovation, operational excellence, and the future of height safety across North America.
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