Vent-Axia has celebrated its 90th anniversary with a commemorative tree planting ceremony in Crawley, highlighting nine decades of British engineering innovation and manufacturing excellence.
The UK ventilation specialist marked the milestone on 15 October with the planting of a Fastigiate Oak at Crawter’s Brook People’s Park, close to the company’s headquarters in Manor Royal, Crawley.
The tree was planted by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, John Barclay DL, during an event attended by the Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Marion Ayling, Crawley MP Peter Lamb, representatives from Manor Royal BID and Crawley Museum, as well as Vent-Axia employees and guests.
Founded in 1936 by Joe Akester, inventor of the world’s first electrically operated window fan, Vent-Axia has grown into one of the UK's best-known ventilation manufacturers. The company’s engineering heritage includes supplying ventilation equipment for Sir Winston Churchill’s Chartwell home in 1945 and developing a wide range of solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
The anniversary celebrations also delivered a lasting legacy for the local community. Working with Manor Royal BID, Vent-Axia funded a new planting scheme at Crawter’s Brook designed to enhance biodiversity and improve the natural environment. Students from Crawley College contributed to the project by producing an engraved commemorative oak plaque marking the occasion.
Air quality artThe anniversary tree and associated planting are located next to the park’s Green Lung sculpture, created by sculptor Andrew McKeown and curated by Manor Royal BID. The artwork combines the form of a human lung with tree roots, branches and trunks, symbolising the relationship between nature and healthy breathing, an appropriate backdrop for a company dedicated to improving indoor air quality.
Graham Sanders, managing director of Vent-Axia, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating our 90th Anniversary at Vent-Axia. From Joe Akester’s invention of the world’s first electrically-operated window fan in 1936 to the ventilation solutions we develop today, innovation has always been at the heart of our business.
“We are very proud of our British manufacturing heritage, and it is particularly fitting to mark this milestone by supporting a project that will benefit the local environment and community of Manor Royal, which has been home to our HQ for nearly 70 years.
“As we celebrate 90 years of achievement, we look forward to continuing to innovate and develop ventilation solutions that improve the environments in which we live and work.”
The anniversary comes at a time when the company continues to expand its portfolio of award-winning ventilation technologies. Among its most recent achievements is the development of the Lo-Carbon PureAir Cleanse dMEV, which won Domestic Ventilation Product of the Year at the HVR Awards. The continuous-running decentralised mechanical extract ventilation fan incorporates integrated indoor air quality monitoring technology designed to help improve indoor environments.
Sustainability also remains central to the company’s long-term strategy. Vent-Axia recently received the BEAMA Net Zero Collaboration Award for its partnership with AO, which transforms recycled refrigerator plastics into ventilation products. The initiative has helped reduce product carbon footprints by up to 40% while supporting the UK’s circular economy.
The manufacturer has also set a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of the UK Government’s 2050 objective.
Archive exhibitsCelebrations continued at Vent-Axia’s headquarters in Fleming Way, where guests viewed a special exhibition developed in partnership with Crawley Museum. The display featured historic photographs, archive equipment and artefacts tracing the company’s development over the last nine decades.
Among the exhibits was a commemorative booklet documenting the 1950 visit of Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, when she officially named Manor Royal and planted a tree in Crawley.
Guests also toured the company’s manufacturing facilities, gaining an insight into current operations and technologies. During the visit, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant operated a 3D printer producing an oak leaf for a commemorative certificate, linking the company’s modern manufacturing capabilities with its anniversary celebrations.
The event concluded with the cutting of a specially commissioned 90th anniversary cake and a presentation by Peter Lamb MP, who presented Vent-Axia with a framed copy of Early Day Motion 918, tabled in the House of Commons, recognising the company’s contribution to British manufacturing, innovation and the local economy.
Speaking at the celebrations, John Barclay DL said: “90 years is a remarkable achievement, and Vent-Axia’s history is one of innovation, engineering excellence and an enduring commitment to improving the indoor environments in which we live and work.
“Through the company’s support for Crawter’s Brook People’s Park and the planting of the oak tree, Vent-Axia is making a lasting contribution to biodiversity and the local community. I congratulate Vent-Axia on 90 years of achievement and wish the company continued success and a sustainable future.”
The anniversary celebrations concluded with a toast to the company's 90 years of British manufacturing and innovation, marking a significant milestone in the history of one of the UK's longest-established ventilation specialists.