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Year : 1946
- The firm of H.L. Smith Builders (Marlow) Limited is founded by Horace Smith as a business specialising in residential extensions.
Year : 1986
- The business moves from Marlow to Princes Road, Bourne End and the name is changed to H. L. Smith Construction Limited following the sale of the business to the present owners.
Year : 1988
- H.L Smith Builders (Marlow) Limited outgrows its premises and constructs its own purpose built headquarters at Station Court, Bourne End.
Year : 1995
- Optima Partitioning systems launched into the market and Optima Partitioning Systems division of HLS is born.
- Optima Products is established to provide materials to the Group's contracting businesses.
- HLS Installations Ltd is formed to provide well trained, high quality site labour and supervision for the Group.
- Spectrum Glass Contracts Limited is formed at Dunstable later to become Optima Architectural Glass.
Year : 1997
- Cirus Limited is created to give a separate identity for the fitting out and refurbishment division of the business.
Year : 1998
- Acquisition of Curtsons (Radstock).
Year : 2002
- The company moves to a new Group headquarters in High Wycombe.
- Optima Products merges with Curtsons (Radstock) Limited.
- Cirus and Spectrum Glass are merged with H.L. Smith Construction Limited which now has four distinct trading divisions – Optima Partitioning Systems, Optima Architectural Glass, Optima Special Works and Cirus.
- Curtsons remains a separate company but is a subsidiary of H.L. Smith Construction Limited.
Year : 2003
- H.L. Smith Construction Ltd acquires the assets of Unilock Ltd.
- Optima Products name changes to Unilock Products.
Year : 2004
- Cirus, fit-out and refurbishment becomes part of HLS Installations Ltd.
Year : 2005
- Nigel Westray appointed Managing Director of Curtsons (Radstock) Ltd.
Year : 2006
- Chairman Bob Morse retires. Rob Judd becomes Chairman, Nick Caley CEO, Gary Evans Sales Director, and Andy Grey Operations Director, all with Group shares.
Year : 2007
- H L Smith Construction Ltd is re-branded as Optima Contracting Limited.
- Curtsons (Radstock) Ltd becomes Optima Products Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary.
- The Optima Group is formed combining Optima Contracting, Optima Products and OAG.
- Contracting Partners are launched by Optima Products to provide nationwide coverage.