F. Ball and Co. Ltd

Founded: 1886
Location: Staffordshire, U.K.
Employees: 130 +

Founded in 1886 when Francis Ball established F. Ball and Co. with William Henry Cowburn, an ink manufacturer, in south east London.

Today, F. Ball and Co specializes in the manufacture of "floor preparation products and flooring adhesives," and is based in Staffordshire, England.

Family owned more than 120 years after its foundation – Geoffrey W. Ball, Francis Ball's great grandson, is the current Chairman.

F. Ball and Co.'s reach is now international, too, with subsidiary F. Ball and Co. (Asia), looking after the Asian Pacific Rim market.