Producing 30 million clips annually, JCS Hi-Torque Ltd is an established British manufacturer of high performance hose clips to a variety of industries worldwide. Now in its fifth generation of the Mockridge family and going through a period of investment, Claire Aldridge, deputy editor, visited its manufacturing facility in Suffolk to see what the future holds.
Although known today for its range of hose clips, JCS Hi-Torque (JCS) can trace its roots back to 1768 when – then a London-based iron merchants – the company is thought to have made the railings used on Buckingham Palace. In the early 1970s, Trevor Mockridge and his two sons – Anthony and Francis – moved the company from London to Suffolk, with its machines and workforce in tow.
All JCS products are still manufactured in Suffolk including the Hi-Torque® hose clamps – specifically designed for use with tough, wire reinforced hoses requiring higher sealing pressures. The Hi-Torque is also used for when an extra margin of safety and reliability is required.
“Hi-Torque heavy-duty stainless steel worm drive hose clamps provide an unrivalled level of performance, quality and strength. The Hi-Torque hose clamps are also quicker to fit, have no loose parts and take up less space than any other heavy-duty hose clamp. We’ve done test after test and we’ve proven that it offers superior clamping force. We trust the Hi-Torque anywhere – if it doesn’t do the job, nothing will,” comments Tom Allen, sales and marketing manager at JCS Hi-Torque Ltd.
JCS also hold Lloyd’s Register Type approval for Hi-Torque for use in applications in the marine, offshore and industrial markets. “The Hi-Torque is one of the few clamps in the world to be approved for the critical application of sealing wet diesel exhaust hoses,” explains Tom.
Also manufactured on-site and available in two grades of stainless steel as well as zinc plated – which JCS carries out in-house – is the standard Hi-Grip®, which can be used in a wide variety of domestic, automotive and industrial applications. Hi-Grip has BSI Kitemark and NATO approval and exceeds all operational requirements of the relevant DIN and SAE standards.
Still owned today by the Mockridge family, the ‘next generation’ Tanya and Edward Mockridge took over the management of the company in 2014. “A new management team always offers new perspectives in the operating of the company. However, Tanya and Edward have been active in the company since leaving school and have worked in all areas of the business – from the shop floor to answering the phones in the office. It’s therefore clear we have the right people to enable JCS to grow,” comments Tom.
The company now employs 72 people across its sales, manufacturing, quality and engineering departments. “The knowledge and expertise the staff have spans over 50 years in the industry. This skill is reflected in the quality of the final product and is something we’re extremely proud of,” says Tom.
Highlighting this commitment to quality is JCS’ promise that every Hi-Grip is manufactured to exceed BS 5315. “The British Standard has the highest requirements of any of the international standards and tests the sealing ability, clamping force and torque. Operationally British Standard clips are built to far outperform everything else on the market, and our internal levels surpass this,” proudly states Tom.
“As a result, Hi-Grip stainless steel worm drive hose clips have become the industry standard for demanding applications throughout the world due to their exceptional quality and performance,” explains Tom. Widely used in marine applications the Hi-Grip is available in A2 and A4 stainless steel with Lloyds Register Approval for marine, offshore and industrial use.
To guarantee the quality of its products JCS has its own in-house design, machining, plating, finishing and testing facilities, as well as an on-site tool room that manufactures bespoke machinery and tooling used in production. This enables total control over every stage of the manufacturing process.
In fact, the latest addition to the factory floor – an automatic Hi-Torque assembly machine – was designed in-house and built by JCS’ on-site tool department. “The Hi-Torque assembly machine is the second of its kind at JCS. All components are fed into the machine – the band, the housing, the saddle and the screws – and it will fully assemble the Hi-Torque clamps. Our ability to fully automate the assembly process of the Hi-Torque highlights the skill and expertise within the company and the commitment to manufacturing in Suffolk,” comments Tom.
Also by investing in new machines JCS has been able to reduce the number of changeovers for different sized clips. Due to the complexity of the assembled clips, one machine can now be dedicated to manufacturing just one type of clip.
It’s because of this expertise that JCS has decided to start a dedicated tooling apprenticeship to invest in the company’s future. “It’s a move by the ‘next generation’ – we’re proud to be a stand-alone British company and we want to continue that determination and passion for many years to come,” says Tom.
Another investment by the new management was a new bespoke production programme with a CRM add-on. Replacing an old system written by the previous generation, the new system will enable the company to access important sales reports and record all relevant information across all departments of the business. The JCS logo has also been rebranded with a new design to represent its core values of a modern, innovative and quality focused organisation, along with a new website to make it easy for users to navigate and find information.
In order to streamline processes, new operating hours have also been implemented across the shop floor, which has enabled a considerable increase in JCS’ manufacturing capacity – from 25 million clips annually to 30 million. “Historically JCS shut down for all British holidays but this year we’ve only had one shut down for general maintenance. It’s the next generation stamp and we’re reaping the benefits already. We’re now able to look at new markets and concentrate on modifying our standard clips to develop innovative solutions,” comments Tom.
One example of this is the TamTorque® security installation clamp for the secure and reliable fastening of all types of signs, street furniture and other mountable equipment. JCS points out that the TamTorque offers unrivalled strength compared to other adjustable fixing systems and as such can often be used in place of more expensive and difficult to use bracketry, secured with nuts and bolts. Also, TamTorque tamper-proof sign clamps can only be tightened or released with a special TamTorque screw bit.
Thanks to its impressive on-site manufacturing facilities JCS will continue to promote quality British manufacturing and research new markets – keeping it at the forefront of the industry. “A JCS hose clip isn’t just a hose clip. It’s a quality engineered product made right here in the UK that is trusted to perform,” concludes Tom.
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
