In October, members of the UKGSA had the exciting opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at SJG International, a family-run business based in Alcester, for over 50 years.
Established initially as SJ Gaskets, the company has evolved significantly. It specialises in a wide range of products, including Zotefoam materials, gaskets, rubber extrusions, and vacuum rings, and it also serves as an Allied Distributor for Flexitallic.
During the visit, 20 members explored various aspects of SJG’s operations, including the Design and Engineering department, which utilises cutting-edge software to create drawings and 3D models tailored to customer specifications. Members were also shown the tool room, which makes the dies and fittings and has recently been upgraded with modern CNC capabilities to cope with demand.
The comprehensive factory tour highlighted distinct areas dedicated to mouldings, extrusion, press cutting, kiss cutting, routers, waterjet cutting, lamination, a finishing area, the packaging area, and quality control. Notably, the cutting area features advanced machinery such as the Atom CNC pneumatic head machine for gaskets. Two waterjets, the first capable of cutting foam, wood, and metal, and the second a WardJet 5 Axis multi-head waterjet.
SJG International has made significant investments in expanding its facilities, including new cladding, roofing, and solar panels, as well as adding a new extrusion line and 3D printing capabilities. A new purpose-built warehouse has now been completed, allowing the old warehouse to be repurposed for flocking. At the time of the visit, the flocking line was in the testing phase and will soon begin operations.
SJG International is not only JOSCAR registered and ISO 9001 certified but has also committed to the Armed Forces Covenant.
The visit provided valuable networking opportunities for members over lunch, allowing them to connect and learn more about one of the UK’s leading gasket manufacturers and foam converters.
For more information about SJG International, visit: sjginternational.com