The UK’s leading provider of firefighting nozzles has opened a new £5.5m design and manufacturing facility in Norwich.

Delta Fire has been based in Norfolk for more than three decades, supplying bespoke fire nozzles to more than 75pc of the UK’s fire and rescue services.

The firm is run by three generations of the same family and recently unveiled its new facility at Broadland Business Park.

Delta Fire, which provides fire safety equipment to more than 70 countries worldwide, is run by Ian Gardner, his wife Carol, their daughters Lisa and Joanne, and Joanne’s sons Jordon King and Kai Sweeney.

Delta Fire's new £5.5m design and manufacturing facility at Broadland Business Park in NorwichDelta Fire's new £5.5m design and manufacturing facility at Broadland Business Park in Norwich (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Lady Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, tests Delta Fire's fire nozzlesLady Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, tests Delta Fire's fire nozzles (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Ian Gardner, Delta Fire's CEO, said: “I started Delta Fire nearly 35 years ago from a little unit on Rackheath Industrial Estate.

"We have moved several times, but we now find ourselves privileged to be in this wonderful building, which is state of the art in terms of sustainability, with plans to expand it even further.

“In this building we manufacture firefighting nozzles that extinguish the majority of fires in the UK every single day and we export them around the world too.

"It’s a tremendous achievement of our team, many of whom have been with us for nearly 30 years.”

Lady Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, cuts the ribbon to open the new facilityLady Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, cuts the ribbon to open the new facility (Image: Sonya Duncan)Ian Gardner, CEO of Delta Fire, tests the fire nozzles with Norfolk Ian Gardner, CEO of Delta Fire, tests the fire nozzles (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The facility was opened by Lady Dannatt, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, and her husband General the Lord Dannatt, to a backdrop of one of Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service’s new appliances and another from the Norfolk Fire Museum dating back to the 1930s.

More than 100 guests attended as Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service showcased the new appliance and Delta Fire launched its latest product - the Hydro Wall Hose - used to combat wildfires.

READ MORE: How Norfolk firm's 'wonder water' is helping farmers make huge savings

Lady Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, and her husband General the Lord Dannatt, with Ian Gardner, CEO of Delta Fire and Jordan King, Head of Business DevelopmentLady Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, and her husband General the Lord Dannatt, with Ian Gardner, CEO of Delta Fire and Jordan King, Head of Business Development (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Norfolk Fire Museum’s 1930s fire engineFire and Rescue ServiceNorfolk Fire Museum’s 1930s fire engines (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Norfolk Fire and Rescue showcased a new appliance, putting out a simulated car fireNorfolk Fire and Rescue showcased a new appliance, putting out a simulated car fire (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Lady Dannatt added: “This is the kind of story I love most of all, a little Norfolk business set up nearly 35 years ago - but from little seeds big things grow. 

"This building is solar powered all year round and for 70pc of the year uses no external energy, which is such an achievement considering it is a factory.”