Bringing innovation to Ireland’s furniture industry
From humble screw distributor to global leader in cabinet fittings in five decades!
For five decades, Titus Group has been at the forefront of precision engineering and component manufacturing, evolving from its humble beginnings as a screw distributor in 1973 to become a global leader in cabinet hardware and motion control solutions. Today, the group comprises 22 companies across Europe, America, Asia and Australia, serving manufacturers in 70 countries with innovative solutions that enhance their competitiveness.
The company’s success is built on three complementary divisions: high-volume cabinet hardware, innovative motion control solutions and high-volume precision parts manufacture. This integrated approach, combined with a deep understanding of customer needs and a persistent innovative spirit, enables Titus to provide comprehensive solutions that improve productivity, enhance quality and reduce assembly costs for its customers.
Above and below: Titus TL5
While cabinet hardware remains the group’s core business, Titus has successfully applied its expertise to diverse industries, including household appliances, automotive and medical devices. The company’s reputation for producing high volumes with consistent precision and repeatable quality has made it a trusted partner for manufacturers worldwide.
Key milestones in the group’s evolution include the 2005 acquisition of Slovenian hinge specialist Lama, which expanded Titus’ capabilities in motion control hardware and soft-closing solutions. The 2014 acquisition of Australian distributor Tekform further strengthened the company’s relationship with kitchen manufacturers, leading to innovations like the new generation of soft-closing T-type hinges.
Phil Beddoe
Leading Titus’ operations in the UK and Ireland is Phil Beddoe, who brings over 25 years of industry experience to his role as Managing Director. Since joining Titus in 1998, Phil has been instrumental in developing the company’s presence in these markets. He combines his knowledge of KBB furniture manufacturing with expertise in product design, business development, and operations management, working with manufacturing companies large and small.
“Our vision is to be the world’s best engineering company for precision components,” says Phil. “This drives everything we do, from product development to customer support. We understand that our success is directly linked to our customers’ competitiveness, which is why we focus on delivering solutions that add real value to their operations.”
Supporting Phil is Phil O’Malley, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organisation. He has an in-depth understanding of the KBB industry, including a background in kitchen design and sales. More specifically, he has over 20 years of considerable experience in the technical component sector, focusing on Key Account and Sales Management.
Serving the Irish market
Titus maintains a strong presence across Ireland through a dual approach. The company works with the Akord Group (formerly Sawtech Ireland), which has served the joinery, construction and engineering industries since 1997. This relationship helps ensure the local availability of Titus products as part of Akord’s extensive portfolio.
Additionally, Titus serves Irish manufacturers directly through its main production facility in Europe and its UK subsidiary in Sherburn-in-Elmet. This direct service capability ensures that Irish customers can access the full range of Titus solutions, backed by comprehensive technical support and customer service.
“The Irish market is important to us,” says Phil. “Whether through our distribution network or direct supply, we’re committed to ensuring Irish manufacturers have ready access to our innovative hardware solutions and the support they need to maximise their competitive advantage.”
Engineering excellence and customer partnership
At the heart of Titus’ business philosophy lies a commitment to engineering excellence and customer success. “Through our innovative product design, engineering expertise and exceptional service, we enable our business partners to improve their productivity and quality while reducing costs across their manufacturing processes,” Phil explains.
This philosophy is evident in the company’s approach to product development, particularly through its Consumer Assembly Friendliness (CAF) principle. CAF isn’t just a design concept – it’s a comprehensive approach to creating products that simplify furniture assembly while maintaining superior quality and performance. This focus on user-friendly design extends from the factory floor to the end consumer, ensuring benefits throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Titus’ commitment to sustainability is another key aspect of its business philosophy. The company adheres to rigorous environmental standards, including ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 50001 for energy efficiency. Over the past decade, Titus has reduced energy costs in product manufacturing by 30% through smart energy systems and continuous monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions.
“We strive to be genuine partners with our customers. Our success is tied to theirs, which is why we prioritise providing solutions that genuinely enhance their operations,” Phil explained.
This partnership approach is reflected in the company’s research and development process, where close collaboration with manufacturers often leads to innovations that become industry standards. Titus continues to drive advancement in the furniture hardware industry by maintaining this focus on customer needs and engineering excellence.
Solutions for modern furniture manufacturing
Titus’ core strength lies in its comprehensive range of cabinet hardware solutions, developed through decades of engineering expertise. Each product family is designed to enhance furniture quality while streamlining manufacturing and assembly processes.
At the foundation of the company’s offering are its cabinet connectors, engineered to improve furniture quality and simplify assembly. These innovative connecting solutions ensure robust construction while significantly reducing assembly time, benefiting both manufacturers and end-users.
The company’s concealed hinge range addresses the diverse needs of kitchen, bedroom and bathroom furniture manufacturers. These hinges feature various damping options – integrated, add-on and stand-alone solutions – providing manufacturers with the flexibility to optimise their designs for different applications and price points.
With drawer systems, Titus offers the Tekform family of double-wall drawers. These systems combine simple mounting procedures with integrated soft-closing mechanisms for reliable, long-term performance. The second-generation Tekform Slimline drawers feature sleek sides that maximise interior space while maintaining the family’s hallmark reliability.
Titus’ furniture damping technology complements these product lines, ensuring soft and silent closing of doors and drawers.
The company’s damping solutions include retrofit options, allowing manufacturers to adapt existing designs to meet growing consumer demand for premium closing actions.
“Each product family in our range is designed with both manufacturer and end-user in mind,” explains Phil. “While the technical specifications are important, what really matters is how these solutions help our customers improve their production efficiency and product quality. Our comprehensive range means manufacturers can source all their hardware needs from a single, reliable partner.”
Latest innovations: Advancing cabinet hardware technology
Titus launched several significant innovations in 2024, each designed to address specific market needs. The T-type PressTo hinge is a significant advancement in hinge technology, featuring a tool-less cup fixing system for quick and easy mounting. This innovative design also includes an audible click-lock system and the T-type 3Way hinge-to-plate mounting, significantly reducing cabinet assembly time while ensuring reliable door operation even with accidental misalignment.
Complementing this is the T-type i170 hinge, which allows cabinet doors to open to a full 170 degrees. Its integrated damper ensures smooth operation and zero door protrusion at 90 degrees, making it particularly well-suited for kitchen units with inner drawers or pull-out systems.
For the growing handleless cabinet trend, Titus has introduced the Push Latch S2. This system provides noiseless, bounce-free soft opening and is compatible with both damped and non-damped hinges. A notable safety feature allows the latch mechanism to detach from its mounting plate if accidentally struck and can be readily reattached without tools.
The company has also launched PushPlus for pocket doors, combining push opening and soft closing functions in a single mechanism. Suitable for doors weighing up to 100 kg, this modular system requires only a light push to trigger the closing action while ensuring smooth, controlled motion throughout operation.
In drawer technology, the new Tekform Slimline Tacto drawers offer an enhanced solution for handleless cabinets. The system features an activator for easy push opening and reliable soft closing, while maintaining compatibility with standard Tekform Slimline components.
For sliding applications, Titus has expanded its Slidix range of soft closing solutions. These high-performance mechanisms provide precise control over damping forces, ensuring smooth, reliable and silent closing without rebound across various applications, from wardrobe doors to shower enclosures.
“These innovations characterise our response to evolving market needs,” says Phil. “Each development has been driven by close collaboration with our customers and a deep understanding of end-user preferences.”
Titus System 6 Flush
Partners in innovation
As Titus continues to strengthen its presence in the Irish market, its commitment to being an accessible, responsive partner remains central to its approach. “Being easy to work with isn’t just a slogan for us - it’s fundamental to how we operate; it’s built into our culture,” explains Phil. “Whether through direct supply or via our distribution network, we ensure Irish manufacturers have straightforward access to our products and expertise.”
This commitment extends beyond product supply to include comprehensive technical support and collaborative problem-solving. The company’s technical team works closely with manufacturers during development phases. This partnership approach, combined with Titus’ ongoing investment in research and development, positions the company to respond quickly to emerging market trends and customer needs.
“Looking ahead, we’re excited about the opportunities in the Irish market,” concludes Phil. “Our focus remains on delivering innovative, reliable solutions that help manufacturers improve their competitiveness. We hope Irish manufacturers experience firsthand how easy it is to work with Titus, and how our solutions can enhance their production efficiency and product quality.”
