Company History
The EJ legacy dates back to 1883 when William E Malpass and his father in law Richard W Round established a foundry on the shores of Lake Charlevoix, USA in the town of East Jordan. This foundry was called East Jordan Iron Works and originally produced castings for machine parts, ship parts, agricultural parts and railroads. Soon after the company was founded, W.E. Malpass called upon his brother James, a journeyman machinist in England, to join the firm.
When the lumbering era came to a close, EJIW expanded into new markets allowing continued success in changing times. The company shifted to the production of street castings, water works valves, and fire hydrants. In the 1920s and 30s William E. gradually transferred management to his three sons, William Henry "Will" Malpass, Richard Ward "Dick" Malpass, and Theodore Edward "Ted" Malpass.
As technology advanced during the 1950s and 60s, the third generation of leadership emerged. Will's son, W.E. "Bill" Malpass, and Ted's son, F. Bruce Malpass, converted the foundry by installing an automated, high-pressure molding line known as the Taccone Line. The new highly sophisticated equipment maximized production capabilities for the foundry.
Since the mid-1980s the business has been led by the fourth generation: Fred Malpass, son of Bill Malpass, and Tracy and Tad Malpass, sons of F. Bruce Malpass. Using the same entrepreneurial spirit as the founders they have transformed EJ into an international leader of innovative access solutions by modernizing it's facilities, acquiring and opening additional branch operations across the USA, while expanding internationally by acquiring foundries in Europe, China and Australia. EJ now supplies products to infrastructure projects in over 150 countries across the world.
Highlights of Our History
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1883 - Foundry EstablishedFoundry Established by William E. Malpass and Richard W. Round.
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1968 - Acquired The Madison Foundry CompanyEstablished in Cleveland in 1893, The Madison Foundry Company specialized in manufacturing municipal casting designs for area cities and the Ohio Department of Highways. This acquisition allowed EJ to enter the greater Cleveland market and expand sales throughout Ohio.
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1993- Acquired B&C Utility in Baltimore, MDIn 1973, Charlie burrier and Dick Cramer formed B&C Utility Supply. B&C developed into the leading distributor of castings in Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Southern Pennsylvania.
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1995 - Acquired Vulcan Foundry in Denham Springs, LAFounded in 1965, Vulcan Foundry was one of the first semi-automated construction casting producers in the Deep South. Originally built to serve the Louisiana market, the company rapidly expanded its product line to meet local specifications used across the southern United States.
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1996 - Acquired Dewey Brothers in Goldsboro, NCDewey Brothers, Inc. was a gray iron foundry founded in 1885. It was a major manufacturer of constructions and utility castings for the North and South Carolina markets. When the foundry ceased operation in 1996, EJ acquired its name, patterns and production tooling.
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1997 - Acquired Higgins Foundry and Supply Company in Atlanta, GAHiggins Foundry Co. operated in Atlanta, Georgia, 1919 - 1982. When the foundry closed in 1982, it began purchasing construction castings for resale from Vulcan Foundry. Higgins was the primary supplier of drainage and construction castings for the greater Atlanta marketplace.
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1998 - Acquired Western Iron Works, Inc. in San Angelo, TXWestern Iron Works, Inc. was founded in 1923 in San Angelo, Texas. It became the principal supplier of construction castings in Texas and southwestern U.S. In September 1998, EJ purchased the inventories, catalog, customer lists, orders, trademarks, patterns, and the licensed name.
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1998 - Hydrant and Valve operation moved to new facilitySince the 1920's, EJ has manufactured fire hydrants and valves for municipal water systems. In 1998, the Water Products operation moved to a state-of-the-art facility in East Jordan, Michigan. This facility features modern machine tools, special coating facilities, and an automated assembly and testing area for fire hydrants and valves.
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2000 - Acquired Southern Foundry Company in Raleigh, NCSouthern Foundry Company was located in Apex, North Carolina, and dates back to 1925 until 1984, when a fire destroyed the plant and equipment. It continued to be the primary supplier of castings in the Raleigh market by purchasing and distributing castings form other foundries.
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2000 - Acquired Cavanagh Foundry, Birr, IrelandCavanagh Foundry Ltd. has operated an iron foundry in Birr, Ireland, for over 200 years. Cavanagh is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high quality manhole covers, gratings and frames to the construction, water, civil engineering, telecommunications, cable TV, and energy industries of Ireland.
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2001 - Acquired C&C Supply in Denver, CoLocated in Commerce City, Colorado, C & C began operations in 1985. They sold castings and serviced the Denver and Colorado markets. Specialty items were built in their steel fabrication shop. EJ continues to operate the fabrication shop and supply the Colorado markets.
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2001 - Built New Foundry and Distribution Center, Ardmore, OKLocated in Ardmore, Oklahoma, a new world-class production facility opened for operation. Ardmore utilizes the best horizontal parted molding line for the manufacturing of street castings and features the best environmental control technology available.
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2002 - Acquired Sather Manufacturing, Seattle, WASather produced and sold construction castings to the western Washington area and Oregon. EJ purchased the inventories, patterns, customer list, and outstanding orders and hired all of the sales employees. The sales operation is located in Marysville, Washington.
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2002 - Acquired Andrews Metal Products, Youngstown, OHAndrews Metal Products in Youngstown, Ohio, has rolling capabilities and modern fabrication systems. They have been fabricating steel manhole risers, catch basin risers, and valve box risers since 1988 and provide custom manufactured steel grates and frames.
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2003 - Acquired Allegheny, Pittsburgh, PAAllegheny sold municipal and utility castings in Western Pennsylvania. The foundry was not acquired by EJ and has closed. The sales and distribution staff continue to provide their customers with products and service. Castings formerly produced by Allegheny are now made at existing EJ facilities.
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2004 - Acquired Inland Foundry Sales, Spokane, WAEJ acquired the assets of Inland Foundry Sales, Inc. which sold gray and ductile iron municipal castings in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. This acquisition improved access to new markets for EJ in the western United States.
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2004 - Acquired Norinco, FranceNorinco is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ductile iron access covers and frames for all types of underground networks. Norinco has sales and distribution facilities in France, Spain, Italy, England, Brazil, Germany, and Singapore and offers important growth opportunities and long-term stability for EJ.
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2006 - Acquired McCoy Foundry, CanadaEJ acquired the municipal casting business of McCoy Foundry and subsequently formed a new company, McCoy Construction Castings. McCoy Construction Castings supplies castings designed to meet the Ontario Provincial Standards and is now selling EJ products throughout Canada.
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2007 - Purchased GNR INFRA-RISER Product Line, CanadaEJ purchased the INFRA-RISER® multipurpose rubber composite adjustment riser product line from GNR Technologies. Production of the EJ INFRA-RISER® has moved from Canada to our U.S. operations in Ohio.
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2009 - Expansion: New Mold Line, East Jordan, MIEast Jordan Foundry installed a new green sand molding line. The line has helped better utilize the melting and manufacturing capability at the East Jordan facility. It was built to produce molds with up to 76" long by 60" wide flask sizes.
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2010 - Acquired HaveStock in Queensland, AUHaveStock is the leading supplier of high quality access covers and grates in their market. With more than 25 years of design, production and sales experience, HaveStock services the civil, commercial plumbing, council, electrical and landscaping industries nationwide. HaveStock broadens EJ's product reach to Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.
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2012 - Global RebrandingWith integrity and heart, we have responded to our customer's needs and expectations and built names for ourselves: East Jordan Iron Works, Cavanagh, Norinco, McCoy and Havestock. Our family heritage and legacy have been the cornerstones of our journey. We are now a global enterprise that spans 5 continents promoting innovation, quality and a commitment to customer service. Our commercial presence worldwide includes 50 sales offices, 10 manufacturing facilities and multiple research and development centers.
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2012 - Acquired Bernard Cassart & Cie, Brussels, BelgiumThe Brussels based company, Bernard Cassart & Cie, has joined EJ. Cassart has been the sole distributor, exclusively promoting products for EJ in the Belgium market. EJ will continue to sell products in the Belgian market with the goal of extending sales to neighboring countries in the region. Mr. Bernard Cassart started in the business in 1980 and began his relationship with Norinco, now known as EJ, in 1981. Bernard Cassart and his company have since enjoyed remarkable success in the telecom and municipal fields, and have worked very hard to establish and maintain high quality standards. Bernard Cassart and EJ introduced the SOLO™ and ERMATIC® range of products to the Belgian market.
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2012 - Acquired Syracuse Castings, Syracuse, NYEast Jordan, Michigan-based EJ has acquired select assets of Syracuse Casting companies, which design and manufacture fabricated access products for the construction and utility industries. Syracuse Castings Sales is based in Cicero, New York; Syracuse Castings West operates from Tooele, Utah, located near Salt Lake City. The acquired companies sell municipal castings in central New York state and Utah; as well as fabricated steel products in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Utah. Their aluminum hatch product line is sold throughout the United States and Canada.
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2012 - Acquired Etheridge Foundry & Machine Co, Portland, MEEJ acquired selected assets of Etheridge Foundry & Machine Co. in August 2012. With the assistance of Freeman Etheridge, existing customers were transitioned from Etheridge Foundry to EJ gaining access to our broad spectrum infrastructure access solutions.
