Gripple has achieved an incredible milestone – the production of its one billionth fastener! The company celebrated this achievement with a special event at its Riverside facility in Sheffield, where it invited current and retired employees who were part of the production of our first-generation fasteners. This milestone highlights its commitment to excellence and significant contributions to various industries over the past 35 years.
Gripple’s versatile fasteners have gained global recognition, with 85% of its products being exported to international markets. Its fasteners have been used in various agricultural, civil engineering and construction applications, including viticulture, fruit growing, wire fencing, garden trellising, greenhousing, utility-scale solar installations, as well as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting, and acoustic projects. High-quality design, reliability, and longevity have contributed to their enduring popularity. Many of companies original fasteners are still in use today; a testament to their durability and performance.
“Our 1 billionth Gripple fastener is a truly remarkable achievement. Our fasteners are used in such a diverse range of applications, and it is testament to their high-quality design and our reliable quality production that they are renowned throughout the world.” – Kevin St Clair, UK Managing Director for Gripple.
Kevin continues, “Our journey at Gripple has been one of continuous growth and innovation. We’ve expanded from a single-site operation to six manufacturing facilities over the past 20 years. Initially producing 15 wire joiner variants at a rate of 20,000,000 per year, we now manufacture 70,000,000 units across 100 variants annually. This impressive growth is a result of our commitment to addressing fastening and tensioning challenges in various industries worldwide.
As we look to the future, we’re excited about what the next 20 years will mean for Gripple as we continue to innovate and develop solutions for people in different industries across the world. Our Automation division is currently developing a machine capable of producing 80 fasteners per minute, which will significantly accelerate production and quality control processes.”
Gripple are committed to elevating quality standards. Over the years, they have made remarkable advancements in our manufacturing processes, transitioning from manual assembly, producing 800 fasteners per shift, to semi-automated production, manufacturing 3,000 fasteners per shift. Today, many of its variants are fully automated, allowing it to produce 25,000 fasteners per shift. To ensure the highest quality standards, the company adopted state-of-the-art camera technology for 100% automatic visual checks, replacing manual inspections. This commitment to quality has solidified its reputation as a leading manufacturer in the industry.
Gripple are also committed to sustainable practises. “As part of our journey towards climate positivity, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality for our UK operations by 2023 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. This commitment reflects our understanding of the importance of environmental stewardship and our determination to contribute to a greener future”
