Our history.

The company that became United Anodisers - Heywood Metal Finishers - was founded in Huddersfield in 1961 and obtained its original Anolok® license in the same year. It allowed us to offer the first truly fade-free bronze finish in the UK.

An expansion of our Huddersfield site was carried out, led by Terry Marsh, Raymond Preston and Gordon Robinson — three instrumental figures in HMF’s history.

The second of the two companies which would later become United Anodisers was founded in 1969. Known as LHT Anodisers, it was based in Uxbridge, London.

The Qualanod license followed in 1976, giving our anodised aluminium finishes the architectural seal of approval. We have held this license continuously ever since - more than 50 years.

Our Anolok® bronze finish was specified by Richard Seifert in the construction of the Natwest tower – the UK’s tallest building until 1990. The building is now known as Tower 42 and the original finish remains in service today, 46 years on.

We obtained our Blue-Grey Anolok® license and began offering a second fade-free anodised finish to the UK market. It is manufactured using a light interference technique that holds its hue under UV exposure.

Unicol colour matching technology was developed to put us at the forefront of colour matching by ensuring consistency across large façades. 

Organic colour anodising was delivered for an exposed seafront leisure centre in Felixstowe, Kent. After almost 40 years of continuous marine exposure on the Suffolk coast, the anodic film shows no measurable deterioration.

Anodised aluminium panels were supplied for Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong. The performance of our finish in the airport’s humid, coastal climate is a testament to our proven endurance and worldwide reputation.

We completed our largest projects to date, providing our Anolok® II Dark Blue-Grey B717 finish for the reclad of Aviva Tower, London. Formerly known as Commercial Tower, this project was delivered in six months. It is slated to be demolished in 2026, making it the largest tower ever demolished in London. Our anodised finish outlasted the building itself.

The 127 metre high Scottish Science Tower, equivalent to 30 double decker buses and Glasgow's tallest structure. Designed by BDP Architects with assistance from Buro Happold, it holds a Guinness World Record for being the tallest tower in the world in which the whole structure is capable of rotating 360 degrees.

Toyota's UK headquarters in Surrey, designed by Sheppard Robson Architects, was anodised by United Anodisers.

When it opened in 2001 it was included in the prestigious British Council for Offices award.‍

The New Museum is Manhattan's only dedicated contemporary art museum, and is an international landmark. Designed by architects SANAA Japan, it opened in early 2007 and featured 8,000 sqm of anodising on the main building, with another 1,000 sqm added to a later extension.

22,000 sqm of 100A Natural Silver was supplied for the rebuilt Wembley national stadium in London, designed by Foster + Partners.

Commissioned an independent audit to assess the long-term performance of anodised aluminium in UK architectural applications.

"Our experience with aluminium has allowed us to enhance our processes for more sustainable practices. In 2008, an independent audit assessed the long-term performance of anodised aluminium in UK architectural applications. The audit found that high-quality anodising, paired with a good metal substrate, provides optimal protection and longevity. This leads to sustainable buildings with reduced maintenance, lower energy waste, and benefits like noise reduction and decreased need for scaffolding and roadworks."‍

– Peter Watts, Managing Director, United Anodisers

10,000 sqm of curved aluminium was anodised for the London 2012 Olympic park Aquatics Centre, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. It was the first large-scale anodised project to be installed with aluminium stud weld fixings.

We anodised 2,000 panels, covering 10,000 sqm, to create a stunning façade for the multi-award-winning Titanic Building in Belfast. It has become one of the city’s most important landmarks and still looks as-new today.

Introduced bespoke UnAtex® finishes to the UK market allowing us to offer truly unique finishes for our customers. It has been used on more than 2,000 projects to date.

Our UnAtex® finish garnered immediate recognition during the refurbishment of Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre which went on to win the RIBA Stirling Prize.

2,200 sqm of anodised panels at 20 microns supplied for the SANAA-designed Grace Farms cultural centre, forming the building’s signature sinuous aluminium roof — known locally as “The River”.

Supplied and anodised 5,481 panels in 100A Natural Silver covering 6,500 sqm at 20 microns for the KPF-designed retail mall at the heart of Shenzhen’s Gangxia district.

Dabaihui Plaza (One Avenue) was delivered in three months, with United Anodisers acting as façade manufacturer and project lead.

Successfully provided Anolok® Blue Grey anodising for the Riyad Bank Tower in Saudi Arabia, confirming system performance in a high-UV, high-temperature environment.

We successfully installed a 120 kW solar panel array on the roof of the Field Mills site to reduce our reliance on non-renewable sources and make meaningful strides towards a more sustainable future.

Continued to innovate with the introduction of CopAlok®, adding five stunning copper-inspired colours to our range. These distinctive finishes offer aesthetic appeal, low maintenance requirements and outstanding technical performance.

Celebrated 50 years of continuous Qualanod licensing, making us one of the longest serving licensees in the world. This accreditation is globally recognised in architecture as a rigorous mark of excellence and we are proud to hold it.