Industry Activities
by Dean Tseng, Fastener World Inc.
Jubilee Clips was the first company to manufacture worm drive hose clips. With manufacturing remaining in the UK throughout the company’s existence the focus has always been on quality and consistency, which has helped the company to retain a strong reputation. Worm drive clamps remain the company’s highest volume product group, but the company also offers a wide range of other clamping solutions for hose, ducting and related applications. Jubilee Clips are sold all over the world, but are particularly strong in the home market in Europe and also in demanding markets in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. Wherever there is a requirement for the highest quality there will be an opportunity for Jubilee Clips.
How did Jubilee gain its critical position in the global market? Managing Director Ian Jennings told, “In this internet driven age, brand confidence is increasingly important to end users; purchasing products without as much opportunity for direct technical comparison as in the past drives the cost conscious end user towards trusted brands rather than taking risks on unknown low price products.” High quality best proves the brand confidence of Jubilee Clips.
The Birth of Jubilee® Worm Drive Hose Clips
When it comes to Jubilee Clips, it is well known in the industry that Jubilee’s founder Commander Lumley Robinson gave birth to worm drive hose clips. Jennings explained, “Our founder invented the product in 1921. He had been in the Royal navy at the start of the 20th century, a period of great industrial advancement and had first-hand experience of the inefficiencies of the prevailing methods for securing hoses. Like most inventors his vision was a simple one of solving a problem and like most engineers he liked to make things as good as possible, simply because that was the right way to do it. This legacy has stayed with the company ethos ever since and the company’s key strength is in the quality of its products. The reputation that this strategy has brought to the company has made Jubilee products very significant in a number of key markets globally.”
Synergistic Benefits Realized Through Acquiring Elms Lightning Fasteners
Three years ago Jubilee Clips acquired Elms Lightning Fasteners. In that time a number of anticipated benefits have been realised through reduced delivery costs to shared customers, a broader customer base, increased marketing of Elms products through Jubilee Clips and efficiencies gained through shared technologies. Jennings added, “We also benefited from some unexpected advances including new products, such as the convenient Multiband Pocket Packs and the Quick Release straps that were shortlisted in the Fastener Innovation Competition at the Stuttgart Fastener Fair in 2015. The positive experience does not necessarily mean that the company would be looking for more acquisitions in the future, because it is clear that the synergies in this particular project were very strong, but the experience would be beneficial should a suitable opportunity arise again.”
Outlook for European Fastener Industry in 2016
2015 proved challenging for UK sales into the European fastener market due to the weakness inherent in the Euro currency which made UK manufacturers less competitive. From the experience of Jubilee Clips, Jennings said 2014 offered better growth than 2015, especially as organic growth through distribution in 2015 was minimal due to stockists lowering stock levels to offset increased landed costs. Later in the year and after the Greek debt crisis abated, demand recovered suggesting that end user demand remains strong—“An encouraging sign that 2016 should offer good growth for UK manufacturers selling into the Eurozone.”
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding 2016 due to divided opinion in the markets about the underlying strength of the global recovery, the UK steel industry and manufacturing in the UK in general. “Jubilee Clips however is in a strong position globally, with the opportunity to source materials from any market and sales demand spread throughout a number of distinct markets. Furthermore Jubilee Clips is in a strong position to engineer ever more efficient production solutions due to the high quality and expertise of the workforce. In terms of quality certification the company has achieved the most important certificates for the supply chain and is seeking to implement the continuous improvements that these demanding standards require. Commercially; to achieve a sustainable increase in market share irrespective of the trading conditions would be considered a positive result and is definitely possible with the product range and quality that the company has,” said Jennings.
It isn’t particularly British to celebrate one’s own successes, but it is fair to say that the company takes great pride in what it does and that in itself is the company’s measure of success. As Jennings concluded, “If we can provide the best quality products, with friendly and professional service then we will have satisfied customers and a satisfied customer is a success.”
Subscribe
