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 Michigan, 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.
Using the same entrenepreneurial spirit as the founders they have transformed EJ into an international leader of innovative access solutions by modernising it’s facilities, acquiring and opening additional branch operations across the USA, while expanding internationally by acquiring foudries in Europe, China and Australia. EJ now supplies products to infrastructure projects in over 150 countries across the World.