About Us

A Family-run Company Committed to Sustainable Thinking

Fusing precision-engineering with surgical expertise to manufacture the highest quality reusable ophthalmic instrumentation at affordable prices.

Company Values

History Of D&K

Inside The Company

Company Values

1. To provide ophthalmic surgeons around the world with precision-engineered instruments of the highest quality.

2. To contribute positively to the sustainability of ophthalmic surgery by producing durable reusable instruments therefore reducing needless waste created by single-use equivalents.

3. To deliver excellent customer service before, during, and after a purchase.

D&K Company Values

Precision-Engineered
Ophthalmic Instruments

We manufacture a refined product range focused on precision-quality instrumentation at affordable prices. Our instrument range has utilised over 60 years of titanium engineering expertise, resulting in the development of a consistent and high-quality range of products covering a variety of ophthalmic procedures.

D&K Company Values

Striving for Continuous Innovation

We work with surgeons around the world, continuously pushing the boundaries of manufacturing in titanium alloy, with the aim of developing the most advanced precision-quality ophthalmic instruments on the market.

We continue to invest in and evolve our manufacturing processes along with streamlining our production pathways in order to achieve accurate, repeatable, precision-quality in every instrument, while also offering affordable prices.

D&K Company Values

Our Product Range is 100% Made in England

Our instruments are 100% designed, manufactured, and delivered from our state-of-the-art facility in the North of Hertfordshire, England. Having full control of our production process enables us to efficiently manufacture and manage our stock.

D&K Company Values

We Provide World Class Customer Service

We are committed to delivering our customers a premium service along with a premium product. Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team are always happy to help with all your ophthalmic instrument needs.

We hold a well-earned reputation as being responsive, helpful, and friendly whilst delivering a reliable service to our global customer base. We take great pride in our reputation among the ophthalmic industry and customer feedback is very important to the future development of our company and products.

D&K Company Values

We are Committed to Sustainable Thinking

We are building towards a sustainable future by investing in renewable energy, environmentally conscious packaging and digital alternatives to reduce needless paper waste.

• Solar Panels
We are proud to announce that we have invested in the installation of solar panels at our headquarters, in order to reduce our carbon footprint.

• Packaging
In conjunction with a general review of our carbon footprint, we have launched and redesigning our packaging to be more eco-conscious. It is now fully recyclable and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.

• Paper-Less
Moving towards a paperless future helps contribute to the wider goal of environmental sustainability.

D&K Company Values

Reusable + Affordable
= Sustainable Instruments

We help you stay at the leading edge of ophthalmology by providing precision-engineered titanium reusable instruments, manufactured with an eco-conscious philosophy.

Our product portfolio allows customers to invest in durable instruments of the highest quality that will perform impeccably for innumerable procedures. which will result in cost savings over time and reduce the needless waste generated by a reliance on single-use alternatives.

View our Cost Saving Calculator

History of D&K

Duckworth & Kent was founded on the 30th January 1959 as a small engineering company in the town of Hitchin, England. Shortly afterwards the company moved to the neighbouring town of Baldock, where it has remained to the present day.

During the 1960s Duckworth & Kent was primarily involved in high-precision contract engineering work for the UK Ministry of Defence.

Today Duckworth & Kent manufacture some of the highest quality precision titanium reusable ophthalmic instruments, for a variety of ophthalmic procedures.

1968

Introduction to Ophthalmology

D&K produced its first stainless steel ophthalmic instruments. A London-based Consultant Eye Surgeon approached the company regarding its assistance in the manufacture of surgical instruments for cataract operations. This new development within the company remained relatively small scale until 1972.

1972

Began Manufacturing in Titanium

Following a meeting with a metallurgist, the company was advised to consider titanium alloy as the raw material, as used in the aerospace industry. The advantages of this material proved it to be very well suited to the requirements for surgical instruments, offering advantages such as no oxidation, relatively lightweight and yet extremely durable.

1988

Launch of the D&K Brand

D&K Ventured further into the arena by producing its own label instrumentation. Gaining both knowledge and considerable experience in the field of ophthalmic surgical instruments.

1999

Move to new Headquarters

To facilitate the expansion to our operation and keep pace with an ever expanding market, D&K moved premises across Baldock to a substantially larger factory and offices.

2004

Innovations in Ophthalmology

Development of existing industry standard manufacturing processes with an aim to produce a superior product faster and more accurately with less hand finishing for increased consistency.

2009

Celebrating 50 Years of D&K

The workforce continues to expand and diversify as the need arises, whether it be in design, manufacturing, sales or marketing. The ophthalmic product range now extends to over 800 instruments and continues to change to meet the needs of this ever-advancing surgical specialty. As a consequence, Duckworth & Kent is now the leading manufacturer of high quality titanium ophthalmic surgical instruments.

2016

Expanded our headquarters

In response to an increasing market the company endeavoured to expand the building and increase production. This expansion enables the company to continue the implementation of new technologies in order to drive innovation and continue its enduring commitment to exceptional engineering within the field of reusable titanium instrumentation. With increasing technological challenges and demanding customer expectations, the value of innovative design and advanced manufacturing is stronger now than ever.

2019

Celebrating 60 Years of D&K

Celebrating a remarkable 60 years of manufacturing excellence, our company takes pride in a legacy defined by innovation, dedication, and unwavering commitment to quality. From humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone in the industry, we reflect on six decades of growth, collaboration, and the countless milestones that have shaped our journey.

2022

Investing in Sustainability

We began building towards a more sustainable manufacturing process by investing in renewable energy, exploring environmentally conscious packaging, and digital alternatives to reduce needless paper waste.

Present Day

Looking to the Future

Applying our innovative and evolutionary mindsets to every aspect of our company keeps us at the forefront of design, engineering, and distribution of premium titanium reusable ophthalmic instruments. Knowing that perfection is temporary and there is always a need to keep pace with progress, we stay ahead of the curve, yet maintain our core values and heritage, thereby having a hand in the past and keeping an eye on the future.

Inside The Company

Duckworth & Kent was founded over 60 years ago and remains a privately owned company, with a management team that is driven by a passion for quality and has had the vision to continually invest in the latest technology, thereby creating a company that is unique in today’s market.

From a single location in the heart of the British countryside, we design, manufacture, and distribute our precision quality titanium reusable ophthalmic instruments to a global market.

D&K Inside the Company

Design, Develop and Prototype Using the Latest Technology

A company passionate about innovation and striving to produce the highest quality products for surgeons around the world, our dedicated in-house Designers, Research & Development teams and skilled Engineers produce the finest titanium reusable ophthalmic instruments.

We continually develop and evolve our instruments, refining our product range to produce the very best surgical instruments with consistent repeatable quality.

We employ some of the most sophisticated computer aided design (CAD) software that generates and models the prototype. It is here where substantial time is spent perfecting the design. Once the design is complete, the first working prototype is created by the Research & Development team who work closely with the Engineering department. In the development, modifications may be carried out to the design to produce a high quality working prototype.

D&K Inside the Company

Experts in Manufacturing Titanium

Engineering is the foundation of what we do, and it is this area where the company excels. Starting as a small specialised engineering company, primarily involved in high precision contract engineering work for the British Ministry of Defence. Through expansion we entered the medical device industry, which is now our core business. Throughout its transitions, engineering has always been at the heart of the development of the company. Today we hold a global reputation for innovation and quality, founded and evolved over 60 years of precision engineering.

Our engineering facility utilises the most advanced computerised machines and is set to handle high volume precision manufacturing.

The medical device market continues to demand devices that are finer, more intricate and more versatile. We invest in the latest capital equipment to keep at the forefront, producing exactly what the market requires. The highly skilled team of engineers operate and programme the CNC machines to consistently produce high quality products without compromise.

D&K Inside the Company

Product Assembly and Finishing

Having a vertically integrated manufacturing facility and FDA compliant assembly site distinguishes us from other suppliers. Our device manufacturing capabilities allow us to produce completed medical devices or sub-assemblies. Our assembly capabilities include mechanical and instrumentation assembly, as well as functional testing, inspection, complex integration and packaging.

Our highly trained process experts and manufacturing engineers, in our assembly operations, are integrated into project teams to ensure that critical Design-For-Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) issues are translated efficiently from design and development, as well as component engineers responsible for individual aspects of product completion. We make extensive use of lean manufacturing and cellular work-flow principles, as well as advanced quality engineering techniques throughout our assembly facilities.

D&K Inside the Company

Quality Control

We pride ourselves on the quality of medical devices we produce, by applying rigorous inspection procedures throughout the manufacturing process. Everyone in the company is trained to recognise the need for scrupulous attention to detail in the tasks they carry out. Our staff appreciate the importance in producing quality products to ensure guaranteed reliability.

As well as final inspection, our inspection department carries out meticulous checks at various stages of the manufacturing process.

With over 60 years specialising in precision engineering we proudly offer our customers a high standard of quality that would be hard to surpass.

D&K Inside the Company

Distribution

Our administration team organises and coordinate resources at Duckworth & Kent. Their roles include inventory management, purchasing and sales, material and job deployment, customer service, warehousing, shipping and transport. It will be this team that you will have a point of contact with for placing and tracking the progress of orders.

Production Planning organises and coordinates the manufacturing operations, ensuring maximum efficiencies in workflow and ease of communication with our administration team. We have a dedicated team that manages and organise all aspects of our operations.

We can hold your products and ship on your behalf direct to your customers and importers, thus ensuring delivery in a timely fashion with minimal handling and shipping charges.