Aurora, IL city officials present for ribbon-cutting ceremony

Gripple Ltd., the innovative UK-based manufacturer of the world famous Gripple wire joiner, celebrated the official opening of a new facility last December for its Gripple Inc. US division. Located in Aurora, Illinois, just west of Chicago, it will enable the company to increase its US production by more than 50%.

First established in 2001 as a sales operation office in Batavia, Illinois, the new 16,000 sq ft building of Gripple Inc. represents a $1.6 million investment and incorporates office, manufacturing, and warehousing facilities.

Multi-award winning Gripple's fencing and trellising products lead the agricultural and viticulture sectors, and the pioneering Gripple Cable Hanger System has changed the face of the construction industry. Last year, its 20th birthday, Gripple Ltd. recorded the sale of 300 million Gripples to 85 countries, with overseas sales representing 80% of turnover.

Under the leadership of Mark Edmonds, who now heads up the Gripple organization worldwide, Gripple Inc. has grown rapidly into a multi-million dollar business with a technically strong construction sales team covering all the US and Canada.

Hugh Facey, who invented the Gripple wire joiner and is now chairman of the company, said: "Gripple continues to grow on the strength of its focus on innovation. We have recently appointed our first innovations director who will concentrate on developing new products within his specialist department which has made Gripple a market leader. I wish everyone in Aurora good luck with their exciting operation which, given their commitment, will be another superb success."

In Gripple tradition, the opening was marked with the presentation of $2,000 to Fox Valley Toys 4 Tots which helps local underprivileged children. The growth of Gripple Inc. in the US is also good news for the wider Aurora community as more employment opportunities become available and sales revenue grows.