IRS Limited was founded in London during 1930 and three years later opened a factory in Colchester, being the first to manufacture reflective road signs having circular cast beads to reflect car headlights.

Martin Dupont became involved with the company in London in 1946, helping to move the factory from Colchester to railway buildings in Watton in 1949, becoming managing director and acquiring the company with his wife Peggy in 1950. In 1953 the company moved to Thetford, with Neville Robinson joining them in 1954.

In 1963 the town council wanted the site in Thetford to extend their offices, so the company had a new factory built in Swaffham, and apart from nearly doubling the size in 1970, remain here to this day, although the product base now includes photoluminescent signs for liners like the QE2; and commercial items like airport baggage gauges as well as the traffic signs we have always been well known for.

Milestones along the way have included a complete change in the design of traffic signs with Martin Dupont representing the industry on the Worboys Committee in 1964. He also became a Grantee to HM the Queen with a Royal Warrant for the supply of signs and notices on the Royal Estates.

In 2001, Martin and Peggy Dupont, and Neville Robinson retired as Chairman, Company Secretary and Managing Director respectively, having jointly given 155 years service to the company. The new team who took over from them were Ian and Vanessa Dupont and Managing Director Steve Parker.