From its beginnings as Acorn Mouldings in 1986 to its fully integrated manufacturing facility today, JET PRESS Shirebrook reflects four decades of resilience, investment, quality, and long-standing customer relationships.
This year marks 40 years of continuous manufacturing at the Shirebrook site, now operating as JET PRESS Shirebrook. What began as a small family-run operation built around flexibility and high-quality plastic injection moulding has evolved into a modern manufacturing facility that supports customers across the automotive, industrial, furniture, and specialist manufacturing sectors.
Founded by Ian and Kate Gilbert, Acorn Mouldings was created with a simple vision: to build a business centred around quality, flexibility, and family life. At the time, Ian was working as a travelling sales representative within the plastics industry. Wanting greater work-life balance and the opportunity to build something for their young family, Ian and Kate established Acorn Mouldings in a small unit on Vernon Court Industrial Estate in Shirebrook.
In its early years, the business focused on low-volume production, quick tool changes, and supporting existing moulders with additional manufacturing capacity. That flexibility quickly became one of the company’s defining strengths. As the business grew, so did its reputation for quality, responsiveness, and reliability, with operations expanding across multiple units on the industrial estate and building long-term customer relationships across a range of industries.
One of the company’s major milestones came with the onboarding of TRW, helping establish the business further as a trusted contract manufacturing partner. Known for high-quality standards and quick turnaround times, Acorn Mouldings developed a strong reputation for dependable manufacturing support.
Like many long-standing manufacturing businesses, the journey was not without challenges. A factory fire in the early 1990s proved to be one of the most difficult moments in the company’s history. However, it also demonstrated the loyalty and trust built with customers, suppliers, and employees over many years. With support from those around them, the business successfully restarted operations in a nearby unit while retaining both its workforce and customer base throughout the transition.
That sense of loyalty and closeness became a defining part of the company culture, continuing to shape the business in the decades that followed.
Reflecting on the early years, James Gilbert, now General Manager of JET PRESS Shirebrook, remembers the site as a genuinely family-focused environment.
“We were a close, friendly business with family heavily involved in day-to-day life at the factory. My grandparents were an integral part of it all, whether that was helping on the machines, sorting parts, or simply making tea for the team. There was always a real sense of trust and loyalty between everyone.”
“I spent school holidays at the factory helping out and building dens from pallets outside for Wayne to tidy away at the end of the day.”
Over the years, the business continued to evolve through investment in machinery, systems, and people. Starting with small 25–35 tonne moulding machines, the operation expanded to support broader customer requirements, later introducing larger 200 tonne machinery to accommodate more complex projects and increasing production demands.
Maintaining ISO automotive standards also became a key part of the site’s development, helping establish the operational discipline, traceability, and quality processes that continue to underpin the business today.
In 2017, the business moved into its current home at Kingfisher House, marking another major step forward in the site’s evolution. The move created a more efficient, purpose-built manufacturing environment while supporting the introduction of new systems, processes, and ways of working.
Now operating as JET PRESS Shirebrook, the facility provides a complete end-to-end manufacturing solution, supporting customers with plastic injection moulding, tooling and development support, assembly and finishing, kitting and bagging, technical support, and supply and distribution.
The site also continues to support moulders requiring additional production capacity, while increasingly helping customers develop products from initial concept through to full production.
While the business has evolved significantly over the past four decades, many of the values that shaped Acorn Mouldings remain unchanged. Several employees have been with the business for more than 20 years, and their long-standing knowledge and experience continue to be passed down through the team, apprenticeships, and ongoing development.
For James, reaching the 40-year milestone represents far more than business longevity.
“It’s an amazing achievement and family legacy to see something that started from nothing go on to employ so many local people over the years.”
“When you look back at the hard work, the sacrifices, and the challenges we went through as a family, it makes you proud to see that it all meant something and continues to impact people’s lives today.”
Looking ahead, JET PRESS Shirebrook continues to evolve through ongoing investment in systems, machinery, processes, and expanded manufacturing capabilities, including developments into metals manufacturing. Despite that evolution, the focus remains consistent: trust in the team, trust in the process, and trust in delivering quality manufacturing solutions customers can rely on.
After 40 years, the values that built the business continue to remain at the centre of its future.
To learn more about JET PRESS Shirebrook’s manufacturing capabilities and history, explore the links below:
For support with sourcing, component supply, or bespoke manufacturing solutions, contact the JET PRESS team.
Email: webenquiries@jetpress.com
Phone: +44 1623 551 800