company History

Varivane Industries has unparalleled experience in the design and manufacture of marine furniture.

We are the UK market leader, and are the only wholly UK-owned supplier specialising in the design and manufacture of metal accommodation furniture for the marine industry.

Established in 1964 in Sunbury on Thames, the company was named after a patented radiator shutter which was fitted to buses, trucks and military vehicles in order to help improve efficiency.

Over the next few years our customer base widened to encompass both the automotive and defence sectors of the economy.

The Company moved to Swindon in 1974 and took up residence in the workshops of the Swindon Railway Works, where we remained until the site was sold for redevelopment in 1980.

Throughout this time, our relationship with the defence sector grew as we became more involved with the production of equipment for tanks and fighting vehicles, in addition to expanding our presence within the naval market.

We moved to our current premises, a purpose built factory and office unit in Devizes, in 1981.

During the 1980s we were actively involved in the creation of the original NES128 design standard for the UK Royal Navy, helping to create a range of furniture that is still in use around the world today.

We also became the prime contractor to the UK Ministry of Defence for the design and supply of ammunition and decoy stowage lockers for use on board ships.

We have since expanded further into the army, commercial shipping, offshore, and workboat sectors.

Over the last 30 years we have supported the Royal Navy fleet, for new-build projects, ship support and refurbishment, holding the enabling contract from the Ministry of Defence for the manufacture and supply of furniture to Royal Navy vessels. We supply directly to the Royal Navy, and to all major UK shipbuilders, as well as to the global market.

We are currently assisting the Ministry of Defence in updating its furniture designs, including an upgrade of equipment in the existing fleet and the improvement of equipment on new-build vessels,

A new generation of furniture is currently in development, based on the proven technical criteria and ergonomics of NES128, but updated to an improved and more modern aesthetic standard.

We export items throughout the world, and we are proud to celebrate 50 years at the forefront of our industry.

Varivane Industries is a member of the Society of Maritime Industries.