Sheffield-based wire fastener manufacturer Gripple has opened an expanded production facility that is eco-friendly, will increase production and will create more than 15 jobs.
Staff and friends of Gripple celebrated the opening of the £2m Attercliffe factory, which was officially opened by Sheffield’s Master Cutler Richard Edwards.
At least 15 jobs have been created with more expected this year and production has increased 10% thanks to 35 high tech cellular manufacturing machines capable of turning out 55 million Gripple wire fasteners annually to be sold across Europe, United States and Australia alone.
The new building has 7,000 sqft more production space than the original and has been dubbed as the ‘industrial cathedral’ thanks to ‘stained glass’ colour windows.
£350,000 was spent on 40 solar panels to heat water drawn from the river Don and the building features a green wall of plants. The gardens surrounding the extended building, which has curves and walls set at an eight degree angle to avoid conventional straight lines, were created and are now tended by homeless people supported by the charity Emmaus, who were paid by the company.
The Master Cutler said: “I have seen Gripple develop over the last 20 years and I am in awe of the team who have grown the company through product development and innovation. The new building is wonderful, unique and I am sure a great place to work.”
Gripple still has its head office in the Old West Gun Works on Savile Street East in Sheffield and one of its sister companies, Loadhog is on Hawke Street, also in Attercliffe. Gripple is employee-owned. There’s more from Gripple on Facebook.