August 2023
BEKA associates was founded in 1983 by Chris and Jenny Burkitt to provide a design and consultancy service for intrinsically safe products. Initially operating from a single room in their North Hertfordshire village home, BEKA was incorporated as a limited company in September 1984. Both Chris and Jenny are still actively involved in the company.
A world first intrinsically safe loop powered indicator the BA303B featuring a low voltage drop and simple apparatus terminals, was launched in 1984, gradually followed by other panel and field models with international certifications.
When in 1987 the company outgrew its domestic village premises, a disused printing works and Coach House were rented in the nearby market town of Hitchin. Seven years later in 1993 when this lease expired, the Midland Bank building in Hitchin was purchased. The building, which is in a conservation area close to Hitchin Priory and historic Tilehouse Street, was refurbished and further extended in 2010. It now houses more than 40 design, production and sales folk.
BEKA products can be found in factories, ships, docks, distilleries and airfields worldwide. Anywhere where an accidental release of a flammable gas or dust could result in an explosion, BEKA products provide safe instrumentation which will not cause ignition, even under fault conditions, be the hazard gas or custard powder.
BEKA associates remains an independent company owned by its directors, and retains its original objectives to provide reliable, cost effective instrumentation quickly. We aim to create a pleasant environment and are enthusiastic about training young folk at all levels.
Since 2020 Olivier Lebreton has been Managing Director. Olivier is a chartered engineer with 20 years experience managing design projects for many different applications including, oceanographic equipment, safety critical products and hazardous area instrumentation in France, Canada and the UK.
Dave Turner, who has been Sales Director since 2009, continues the tradition of friendly worldwide support. Nearly three quarters of BEKA output is now exported, mainly via overseas agents who are regularly trained via visits or teleconferencing enabling them to effectively support BEKA products in their area.
Chartered accountant Emma Rookwood joined BEKA in 2011 and was appointed Financial Director in 2013. Emma oversees company finances and is also responsible for human resources including training and apprenticeships.
Product innovation is continuous. In addition to an industry standard range of loop powered indicators for hazardous and safe areas, BEKA manufacture data and fieldbus displays, totalisers, counters, beacons and panel lamps all internationally certified for use in hazardous areas. After five years of development in cooperation with major customers, BEKA has just launched 'Pageant' a unique intrinsically safe operator panel and programmable logic controller (PLC) with plug-in input and output modules which can be installed in hazardous Zones 1, 2, 21 and 22 worldwide.
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