First Line celebrates 40 years of growth and innovation

First Line Ltd is marking its 40^th anniversary in 2023, as the company celebrates its continued commitment to providing customers with a comprehensive range of high-quality, automotive aftermarket components.

Founded in 1983 as Filter International by Peter Joyner and John Madden, the forward-thinking duo are still very much involved in the business today, as they remain owners and key chairholders of the company.

Since the company was launched, it has continued to experience a trajectory of growth, with the First Line brand introduced in 1987 to advance its multiple product range portfolio.

To reflect this, its Steering and Suspension programme was launched in 1992, with an initial 1,000 references in the range, which at the time was the most comprehensive range available.

First Line remains a market leader and now offers the aftermarket an impressive range of over 9,200 premium quality Steering & Suspension components as part of its 40,000 references across 60 different product lines.

The company opened its Belfast Distribution Centre in 2004, before acquiring the well-established, 100-year-old inventors of the practical sliding clutch, Borg & Beck brand, in 2006, which has proved to be a key milestone in the company’s heritage.

Now, with more than 170 employees worldwide and a loyal, international customer base, First Line provides customers with efficient logistics in the UK and globally, with products distributed in more than 80 countries around the world, including the USA, France, Spain, Poland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Australia and New Zealand.

Throughout the past 40 years, customer service has always remained a priority, and with the business experiencing year-on-year success, it moved to a new 12,000m2 distribution centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in 2012, expanding to 16,000m2 in 2013 to accommodate demand, while also introducing the Key Parts brand and the Borg & Beck Braking line.

Scooping more than 25 awards over the past forty years, First Line has continued to assess the market and introduce new product categories to meet ongoing demand, including the launch of its Commercial Vehicle product range in 2016.

Today, First Line Ltd. continues to offer the independent aftermarket an extensive product portfolio of over 40,000 references across more than 60 product lines, distributed via its three established brands: First Line, Borg & Beck, and Key Parts.