Jet-Vac Ken cleaned up with design

THE founder of a small family business which helped put Oldham on the map with a product used across the globe, has died.

Ken Furness (86) died at Nobles Hospital on the Isle of Man, where he retired with wife Alma 20 years ago, after an illness.

Handcart

Ken founded K&A Furness, based at Trent Mill Industrial Estate, off Duchess Street, Shaw, and was most well-known for the Jet-Vac, a product he designed and patented.

The wet-and-dry vacuum unit has been sold to places as far afield as Singapore, Dubai and Nigeria.

One use is on offshore oil rigs, where it can be used to suck up and recover the lubricant oil brought up on drills, helping to recycle waste materials.

The Jet-Vac has also been used to clean up after major oil spills such as those involving the Exxon Valdez in Alaska, in 1989, and the Sea Empress off the Welsh coast, in 1996.

K&A Furness was founded by sheet-metal worker Ken in 1954 above a fish shop in Farrar Street, Shaw.

He delivered his products by handcart, before moving to larger premises in Derker.

In 1972 the company, by now employing around 30 craftsmen manufacturing the Jet-Vac moved to purpose-built premises in Shaw, on the site of the now-demolished Trent Mill.

This 5,000 sq ft facility has been home to the business ever since — and it hosted a champagne party at which a letter from Balmoral Castle, offering the Queen’s congratulations on the firm’s success, was read to guests.

He leaves behind four children — Karen, Debra, Luke and Linda — as well as grandchildren James and Cameron and great-grandaughter Savannah.

Ken handed over the business to Linda upon his retirement.