History of CFM
Founded in 2002, CFM North East Ltd has established itself as a leading UK specialist in the sales, service, and hire of industrial cleaning machinery. Headquartered in Bedale, North Yorkshire, the company has spent over two decades evolving from a regional service provider into a nationally recognised partner for industrial cleaning solutions.
Key Historical Milestones
Founding (2002):
The company was established IN 2002 by David Fell. David had significant experience in the sector having been employed for many years by the company widely known as CFM, whichwas originally an Italian manufacturer founded in Zocca, Modena (Italy) in 1978. CFM initially stood for Continu, Fisker, and Martinelli (the founders), and it built a formidable reputation in the UK and global industrial sectors for manufacturing heavy-duty, ATEX-certified, hazardous dust, and oil-separating vacuum systems. CFM North East was founded following the acquisition of CFM by Nilfisk in 2002, with a focus on providing "straight-talking" advice and reliable equipment, aiming to fill a gap in the market for personalised, expert-led cleaning machine services.
Incorporation (2011):
While the business has roots dating back further in terms of industry experience, the current entity, CFM North East Ltd, was formally incorporated on June 23, 2011.
Strategic Growth:
Over the years, the company expanded its reach beyond the North East, now serving major hubs including Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and Newcastle.
Management & Leadership:
In 2018, David Fell sold the business to Paul Nixon assisted by Paul Hart - FD, both of whom had ‘20 years’ experience owning and operating sizeable commercial contract cleaning businesses. This has allowed them to understand customers’ needs from an operations perspective and as a consequence they have overseen the expansion and modernisation of their product range, hire fleet and the expansion of their "Hire-to-Buy" and leasing programs. In early 2024, Richard Moore was recruited by the Directors as Operations Director to further drive the business forward. Richards successful 23 year military career in the Royal Engineers has allowed him to further improve the service offering through, streamlining systems, effective customer service .communication and management, logistics enhancements along with enhanced IT systems such as vehicle tracking and asset management.
Core Evolution of Services:
CFM North East’s history is defined by its transition from a simple equipment vendor to a full-service technical partner.
Brand Partnerships:
They became authorized stockists and service providers for global industry giants such as Nilfisk, Viper, Makita, Skyvac and Numatic.
Workshop & Refurbishment:
Unlike "faceless" online retailers, CFM North East invested heavily in an engineering/ workshop facility. This has allowed them to provide one stop servicing and maintenance support to customers alongside offering high-quality refurbished cleaning machines, a sustainable and cost-effective alternative that has become a well-respected, high-quality hallmark of their business model.
The "Site-First" Approach:
The company’s growth was driven by its offering of onsite demonstrations and surveys, ensuring clients—ranging from food manufacturing/ factories, schools, general manufacturing and logistics facilities to the likes of Cadburys, Mars, Quorn Foods, Nestle, Andron Facilities, Cleantec, Babcock, Amazon and even RAF Brize Norton received machinery tailored to their specific requirements.
Company Snapshot:
Feature Details
Founded 2002 (Incorporated 2011)
Headquarters Bedale Hall, North Yorkshire
Core Specialism Industrial Vacuums, Floor Sweepers & Scrubber Dryers
Key Industries Aviation, Manufacturing, Warehousing, & Education
Today, the company remains a family-oriented independent specialist, maintaining one of the largest cleaning equipment rental fleets in the country while sponsoring local community initiatives, such as regional car rallies and youth sports.