Owlett-Jaton
Fasteners
Company Overview and Background
Owlett-Jaton, a key entity under Hexstone Ltd, operates as the UK and Ireland's largest wholesale supplier to the builders' and engineers' merchant sectors. Formed in 1998 from the merger of Owlett (established 1947) and Jaton (established 1969), the company is headquartered in Stone, Staffordshire. It is recognized for offering a complete wholesale solution, emphasizing quality, service, and value to its trade customers. The company provides 24/7 online ordering for account holders, alongside support from Area Sales Managers and sales offices, offering technical assistance and efficient returns processing.
Comprehensive Product Portfolio
The company boasts an extensive inventory of over 30,000 product lines, featuring its own prominent brands such as JCP (fixings, chemical anchors, drill bits), JRP (blind rivets, rivet nuts), Thunderbolt (all-purpose anchors), Unifix (fasteners, fixings, woodscrews), and Vortex (high-performance woodscrews). Owlett-Jaton also distributes products from leading brands like Action Can (lubricants, sprays, paints), Alpen (drill bits), Blind Bolt (structural cavity fixings in high tensile steel, A4 stainless, Geomet 500 finish), Bond It (adhesives, sealants), HEICO (fastening technology), HOLO-KROME (hex-socket screws), HookStop (shock-absorbing roof tiles), Metolux (wood fillers), Philidas (self-locking nuts), REDtip (PV solar mounting systems), Starrett (saws, blades, hole saws), Teco (builders metalwork), and UltraGrime (clothwipes). The product range covers various materials including steel, stainless steel, brass, and specialized coatings.
Service Excellence and Operational Efficiency
Owlett-Jaton prioritizes customer service and operational efficiency, offering free next-day delivery across most of the UK mainland with low minimum order levels. Significant investments in its 130,000 sq. ft. warehouse, including Modula vertical storage lifts, allow for efficient management of 6,500 SKUs and processing approximately 7,000 lines daily. The company provides merchandising solutions, including a stock-cleansing service and professional installation of displays for customers transitioning to a retail environment. Technical support, anchor calculation programs, and product certification (3.1, ISIR, PPAP) are integral to their offering.
Commitment to Sustainability
As the first and only wholesaler in its industry in the UK to achieve ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Accreditation, Owlett-Jaton demonstrates a strong commitment to minimizing environmental impact. Initiatives include sourcing all electricity from renewable sources, installing LED lighting, investing in lithium-ion battery-powered mechanical handling equipment, and introducing hybrid/electric company vehicles. The company also focuses on waste segregation and recycling (less than 0.5% to landfill in 2021), utilizing rail transport for containers, and implementing electronic invoicing and reduced plastic packaging.
