U.K. gasket maker opens advanced production facility

MANCHESTER, England—Manufacturer of rubber and plastics gaskets and seals JA Harrison is set to unveil new production facilities designed to earn it accreditation to work with highly regulated industries.

The $3.7 million installation in Manchester houses advanced technology, machinery and manufacturing processes needed to design innovative sealing products, according to a company press release.

The unit, it said, is intended to "assure defense, aerospace, automotive, rail, pharmaceutical and food processing companies that its specialized gaskets and supply chain meet their industries' stringent safety and quality requirements."

The 38,000-sq.-ft. facility, which is "backed" by the U.K. government's department of trade and industry, was scheduled to open Nov. 10, according to a statement from the family-run company.

JA Harrison said the design incorporates state-of-the-art computerized industrial presses, lathes, ovens and cyber-safe security systems. There are also enhanced handling, packaging, storage, cleaning, waste control and review capabilities.

The company, which already supplies gaskets to energy and petrochemical businesses including Siemens and Total, has begun application processes for AS9100D and AS9120B600JAHarrison machine Tch 2 (2016) accreditations. This will allow the firm to work with international aerospace companies, space agencies and satellite manufacturers.

Another target is IATF 16949 accreditation to supply the automotive sector. JA Harrison's facility recently obtained ISO 9001-2015, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications.

"Our sealing products have always been the highest quality available and we have a track record in creating innovative products, which many companies in these industries seek," said Keith Shepherd, managing director of JA Harrison.

"But we needed to refine our processes and this facility has more than done that for us," he added. "It is a flagship facility for our industry and gives us the scope to produce gasket and seals for some of the most tightly controlled businesses around the world."