WALK AROUND: EJOT UK’s new state-of-the-art HQ
With the paint drying on EJOT UK’s newly expanded manufacturing, R&D, logistics and operational facility at Sherburn-in-Elmet, Torque Magazine tours the new site…
WALK AROUND: EJOT UK’s new state-of-the-art HQ
With the paint drying on EJOT UK’s newly expanded manufacturing, R&D, logistics and operational facility at Sherburn-in-Elmet, Torque Magazine tours the new site…
EJOT’s long history began in rural Germany 100 years ago. Having started producing nails in 1922, 1935 saw it pivot towards screw production.
In the 1960s, under new family ownership, the firm expanded through acquisition and the company name EJOT was born.
Fast forward to 1985 and EJOT opened the first of its international subsidiaries, in the UK (EJOT now has 34 around the world). By the early 1990s, EJOT UK was manufacturing product and the subsidiary still produces a range of product in the UK, in its newly expanded base in Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Leeds. Alongside production, the freshly minted state-of-the-art UK facility features R&D, logistics and operations.
"Alongside production, the freshly minted state-of-the-art UK facility features R&D, logistics and operations."
The sizeable expansion was worked on throughout the pandemic and completed in 2021.
The floor of the new warehouse had to be meticulously laid to accommodate the new high reach forklifts. Operatives have been trained in abseiling in case of the unlikely event that a forklift might cease working whilst at the high end of the warehouse.
During the tour, EJOT UK explained some of the measures it had taken to become more sustainable, including introducing biodegradeable plastic bags in packaging and minimising waste plastic in its injection moulding processes. The firm also revealed it was looking into the practicalities of wind power for the site.
"Turnover was £5.9million in 2001, that total ramping up to £27m in 2021. Likewise, the firm produced 27 million parts in 2001, rising to 75 million parts in 2021."
EJOT UK has been described as “an engineering company that makes fasteners” and it’s a phrase firmly seen as a compliment. The business confirms that despite the many changes it has seen, it is still grounded as a technical company, something backed by the impressive APPLITEC facility.
EJOT’s state-of-the-art APPLITEC Centre is an R&D and testing facility, standing for APPLIcation TECHnology. EJOT UK’s R&D department was established in 2009 and has been a crucial part of the business.
Encouragingly, approximately 10% of the workforce are involved in developmental learning. “You need to grow your own,” the firm says.
Recent decades have seen EJOT UK become an ever more formidable player with greater links with key industries like construction and automotive. Turnover was £5.9million in 2001, that total ramping up to £27m in 2021. Likewise, the firm produced 27 million parts in 2001, rising to 75 million parts in 2021.
Find out more via www.ejot.co.uk
