'Dad led with passion... and was never afraid to roll up his sleeves and get to work on the factory floor'

Tributes following death of engineering firm founder Mick, aged 80

- Sentinel Reporter

THE founder of multi-award-winning engineering company KMF has died aged 80. Michael Higgins passed away peacefully following a short illness.

Mr Higgins, who was fondly known as Mick, founded KMF with two colleagues from ICL, Kidsgrove in 1971, having previously worked in the metal shop there. The founders' initials gave KMF its name - Ken, Mick, and Fred.

He worked tirelessly to grow the company from a small business, starting in Lask Edge, moving to Smallthorne and then Hot Lane, Burslem, for several years, before relocating to the current premises at High Carr Business Park, Newcastle. KMF Precision Sheet Metal now employs more than 500 people across multiple sites in the UK and Slovakia.