About J Banks
With our manufacturing pedigree spanning generations, heavy investment in automation, and passion for UK engineering, we design and manufacture highly specified, high quality and innovative products to customers worldwide.
In addition to our standard product range, with our experienced technical and engineering team, we can work with your business to design custom products to fit your distinct specifications.
Our History
1846
Founded by Jacob Banks
Jacob Horace Banks began making padlocks on a site in Wood Street; you can even see a sketch of one of his designs from 1906 in the Willenhall Lock Museum. His sons, John and Horace, would join the family business before WWI broke out.
1911
Our first patent
Proudly displayed in one of our boardrooms today is the certificate of J Banks’ first patent for a runner used on the latches of locks, dated 5th January 1911
1914-1945
J Banks during the two World Wars
During WWI, J Banks designed and manufactured life-saving protective vests for soldiers, one of which can be viewed at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum today. During WWII, J Banks manufactured kit bag handles for the army and navy, which continued in production until 2001.
1992
Uncovered shipwreck
Since being bombed and beached on Christmas Eve in 1940, SS Breda has become a popular dive site. In 1992, a diver contacted us because they found a curious item manufactured by J Banks. It was a brass button rubbing strip to prevent clothes from being damaged while buttons were polished. It was still in usable condition after all this time!
2004
From one family to another
With the retirement of Horace’s son, Tony Banks, John Wellman highlighted the opportunity to his father, David, who purchased the company with his wife, Glenys, and pioneered a new range of window restrictors. In 2008, this success enabled them to acquire Serco (Plastic Injection) Moulders.
2005
J Banks move to Tipton
For the first time in our history, J Banks moved premises. A few years later, John bought his way into the company, allowing the acquisition of PDT Plastics, and merged with Serco.
2012
Major expansion
This major expansion and success led to the relocation and centralisation of JWM Turned Parts, Serco (Plastic Injection) Moulders, and J Banks under one roof: a new, purpose-designed, 40,000 sq. ft. site at Vernon Park, Staffordshire. John became Managing Director, and David later retired in 2014.
2016
Investment in automation
Passionate about technology and competitive manufacturing in the UK, J Banks invested in our first robot and later automated the store process with electronic racking. A few years later, using our engineering skillset, we began designing and building automated robotic cells to transform our manufacturing process here in the UK.
2023
The launch of Verselo
After John’s daughter destroyed their blinds at home by catching them on the window handle, the technical team designed a window handle that was unlike any other, with the lowest profile in the world. The success of this led to the new, public-focused brand, Verselo.
Present Day
The continued legacy
Today, J Banks major in the design, development, and manufacture of standard and bespoke door and window hardware, with our main customers being systems companies, fabricators, and distributors. J Banks proudly remains as strong and family-run today as we did over 175 years ago.
