Fairfield Enterprises
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFairfield Enterprises was a British distributor of machinery, tooling and support services for the printing and packaging industries.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Fairfield Enterprises was a British-based industrial distribution company serving the printing, paper, converting and packaging sectors. Its roots lay in Oscar Friedheim, a business founded in London in 1884 by Oscar Friedheim, a Jewish-German immigrant. The enterprise initially supplied cardboard and paper, but moved into machinery importation and distribution in 1889. Its first reported machine was a German-made card-cutting and scoring machine used in the production of visiting cards. The company subsequently built its position by representing overseas manufacturers of machinery used in paper and packaging production. Its historical supplier relationships included Bobst, Faber & Schleicher, Muller Martini and, after the Second World War, Winkler + Dünnebier. This made Fairfield and its predecessor businesses intermediaries between international equipment manufacturers and customers in the British printing and packaging industries. Its role extended beyond equipment sales into tooling, engineering support, spare parts and related services. The original business was incorporated as a limited company in 1913 with nominal capital of £17,000. Following Oscar Friedheim's death in 1928, his wife Henriette Friedheim became governing director. The business suffered severe disruption during the Blitz in the Second World War, when its Water Lane head office was hit twice and much of its machinery and company records were destroyed. A provisional office was established at Mill Hill. In 1948 Oscar Friedheim Ltd expanded by acquiring the engineers and sundries business of John Haddon & Co, a London printing and advertising company. Fairfield Enterprises Ltd was established as a holding company for Oscar Friedheim Ltd in 1970. During the following decades it broadened its activities beyond machinery distribution. It acquired a 50 percent interest in Lasercomb Dies Ltd of Redditch in 1984 and purchased the remaining interest in 1991, strengthening its involvement in tooling and spare-parts-related activities. In 1997 Fairfield was admitted to the London Stock Exchange at 80 pence per share. The flotation raised funds for acquisitions and also provided descendants of founder Oscar Friedheim with an opportunity to realize value from their holdings. The group continued its acquisition strategy in the late 1990s, buying Palatine Engraving of Leeds and Kennedy Grinding of London in 1998. Its headquarters moved from London to Redditch in 1999, reflecting the importance of its tooling and engineering activities. Fairfield's independent existence ended in 2000 when Swiss packaging-machinery supplier Bobst AG acquired it for 200 pence per share. The company's distribution activities relating to Bobst machinery in the United Kingdom and Ireland were reorganized under Bobst UK Holdings Ltd. The remaining businesses, including Friedheim International and the Lasercomb Group with Palatine Engraving, were later sold to their management in 2005 and 2006. Fairfield Enterprises is therefore best understood as a historical industrial group rather than an active standalone brand.
History
Fairfield Enterprises developed from the London business established by Oscar Friedheim in 1884. Friedheim, a Jewish-German immigrant, initially traded in cardboard and paper. In 1889 the company changed direction by importing and distributing machinery, beginning with a German card-cutting and scoring machine used to manufacture visiting cards. This shift established the pattern that defined the enterprise for much of its existence: representing foreign machinery manufacturers and supplying British customers in the paper, printing and packaging trades. Over time, Oscar Friedheim built commercial connections with manufacturers including Bobst, Faber & Schleicher and Muller Martini. After the Second World War, Winkler + Dünnebier was added to the group of overseas manufacturers associated with the business. The company therefore operated primarily as a specialist machinery distributor and technical support organization rather than as a mass-market manufacturer. Its activities included machinery supply, tooling, engineering support, spare parts and related industrial services. The business became a limited company in 1913, with nominal capital of £17,000. When Oscar Friedheim died on 17 May 1928, his wife Henriette Friedheim became governing director. The company faced major wartime losses during the Blitz: its head office in Water Lane was struck twice, destroying much of its machinery and records. A temporary office was subsequently established at Mill Hill. In 1948 Oscar Friedheim Ltd acquired the engineers and sundries business of John Haddon & Co, a London printing and advertising company, broadening its technical and commercial base. The corporate structure changed in 1970 when Fairfield Enterprises Ltd was formed as a holding company for Oscar Friedheim Ltd. Fairfield later expanded into tooling and spare-parts-related business through Lasercomb Dies Ltd in Redditch. It purchased half of Lasercomb in 1984 and the remaining half in 1991. This acquisition gave the group a stronger presence in specialist die and tooling activities alongside its machinery distribution operations. In August 1997 Fairfield became a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, with shares offered at 80 pence. The flotation served two purposes identified in contemporary descriptions of the company: raising capital for acquisitions and enabling descendants of Oscar Friedheim to realize value from their family holdings. Fairfield used the enlarged corporate platform to continue its expansion, acquiring Palatine Engraving in Leeds and Kennedy Grinding in London in 1998. In 1999 the group's headquarters moved from London to Redditch, a location associated with its Lasercomb and tooling activities. Fairfield's independent period ended in 2000 when Bobst AG of Switzerland acquired the company for 200 pence per share. Because Bobst was already one of the machinery manufacturers connected with Fairfield's distribution activities, the transaction combined an established British sales and service network with the international packaging-equipment supplier. Fairfield's Bobst-related distribution operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland were renamed Bobst UK Holdings Ltd. The other principal elements of the former group followed a different path: Friedheim International and the Lasercomb Group, including Palatine Engraving, were sold to their management in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Fairfield Enterprises consequently survives mainly as a historical corporate and trading name associated with British printing and packaging equipment distribution.
- 2006
Lasercomb Group sold to management
[1]The Lasercomb Group, including Palatine Engraving, was sold to its management.
- 2005
Friedheim International sold to management
[1]The remaining Friedheim International business was sold to its management after the Bobst acquisition.
- 2000
Bobst AG acquires Fairfield
[1]Bobst AG acquired Fairfield for 200 pence per share.
- 1999
Headquarters move to Redditch
[1]Fairfield moved its headquarters from London to Redditch.
- 1998
Acquisitions of Palatine Engraving and Kennedy Grinding
[1]The group acquired the Leeds-based engraving business and the London-based grinding business.
- 1997
London Stock Exchange flotation
[1]Fairfield was listed at 80 pence per share to raise acquisition capital and provide liquidity for descendant shareholders.
- 1991
Fairfield takes full ownership of Lasercomb Dies
[1]Fairfield acquired the remaining 50 percent of Lasercomb Dies.
- 1984
Fairfield acquires half of Lasercomb Dies
[1]The group purchased a 50 percent interest in Lasercomb Dies Ltd of Redditch.
- 1970
Fairfield Enterprises becomes the holding company
[1]Fairfield Enterprises Ltd was created as the holding company of Oscar Friedheim Ltd.
- 1948
Acquisition of John Haddon & Co business
[1]Oscar Friedheim Ltd acquired the engineers and sundries business of John Haddon & Co.
Products and positioning
A specialist industrial distributor and service provider connecting international machinery manufacturers with customers in the British printing, paper-converting and packaging industries. Fairfield differentiated itself through equipment representation, tooling, engineering support, spare parts and acquisitions of complementary technical businesses.
Industrial machinery distribution · 1889
Printing and packaging machinery distribution
Fairfield's core activity was the importation, representation and distribution of machinery for printing, paper handling, converting and packaging applications. The business connected British and Irish customers with overseas manufacturers, including Bobst, Faber & Schleicher, Muller Martini and, after the Second World War, Winkler + Dünnebier. Its value proposition included equipment supply and the associated technical knowledge needed to install and support industrial machinery.
Industrial tooling · 1984
Lasercomb tooling and dies
Through Lasercomb Dies Ltd and later the Lasercomb Group, Fairfield operated in specialist tooling and die-related activities serving packaging and printing production. Fairfield acquired half of Lasercomb in 1984 and the remaining half in 1991. The Lasercomb activities were later separated from the Bobst-owned operations and sold to management in 2006.
Industrial support services · 1948
Engineering, sundries and spare-parts support
The group supplied engineering support, printing-industry sundries and spare-parts-related services. These capabilities complemented its equipment-distribution role and were reinforced by the 1948 acquisition of the engineers and sundries business of John Haddon & Co.
Industrial finishing and tooling services · 1998
Engraving and grinding services
Fairfield added specialist engineering businesses through its 1998 acquisitions of Palatine Engraving in Leeds and Kennedy Grinding in London. These operations broadened the group beyond machinery distribution into technical manufacturing and finishing services.
Brand decisions
2000
Acquisition by Bobst AGM&ABackground
Bobst AG was an international supplier of machinery and services to the packaging industry and had an established relationship with Fairfield as a represented manufacturer.
Action taken
Bobst acquired Fairfield Enterprises for 200 pence per share.
Aftermath
Fairfield's Bobst distribution activities in the United Kingdom and Ireland were renamed Bobst UK Holdings Ltd. Friedheim International and the Lasercomb Group were subsequently sold to management in 2005 and 2006.
Acquisition consideration per share. 200 pence per share (2000 acquisition)
1997
Public flotationStrategyBackground
Fairfield wanted to raise funds for acquisitions and provide descendants of Oscar Friedheim with a way to realize value from their holdings.
Action taken
The company listed on the London Stock Exchange at 80 pence per share.
Aftermath
The listed structure supported further acquisitions in 1998 before Fairfield was acquired by Bobst in 2000.
Initial share price. 80 pence per share (August 1997 flotation)
1984
Initial acquisition of Lasercomb DiesM&ABackground
Fairfield sought to extend its industrial distribution business into tooling and spare-parts-related activities.
Action taken
The group acquired 50 percent of Lasercomb Dies Ltd in Redditch.
Aftermath
Fairfield completed the acquisition by purchasing the remaining 50 percent in 1991.
1970
Creation of Fairfield Enterprises as a holding companyStrategyBackground
The original Oscar Friedheim business had developed into a group of industrial distribution and support activities.
Action taken
Fairfield Enterprises Ltd was established as the holding company for Oscar Friedheim Ltd.
Aftermath
The structure provided the platform for later acquisitions and the eventual public listing.
Sources1 sources
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