Category Archives: History

UK Manufacturing Goes Viral: New era of a family legacy

As we look ahead to 2026, one thing is clear. Social media growth will be a major focus for our business. The past year has shown us the power of digital visibility and how quickly UK manufacturing can capture global attention. Never would we have imagined that our simple “bolt dipping” videos would go viral. Yet here we are, with millions of people discovering the craftsmanship behind our critical fasteners and the heritage of our family run company.

Blot dipping viral on Instagram
Viral Bolt Dipping on our Instagram page

UK Manufacturing Goes Viral

The response to our content has been extraordinary. Our videos have reached audiences far beyond the engineering sector, proving that UK manufacturing is not only relevant but genuinely fascinating to people worldwide. This surge in social media growth has put Hague Fasteners firmly on the map. As a result, viewers now see how critical fasteners are made and why precision matters.

Moreover, this visibility supports one of our biggest goals. We want to encourage young people to explore careers in UK manufacturing. By showing real processes, real people, and real engineering behind the scenes, we help to inspire the next generation. Our viral “bolt dipping” clips are more than just satisfying to watch. They open a window into a modern, high integrity family manufacturing business.

A Family Business With Deep Roots

Our story began in 1971, when John Stuart Hague founded Hague Fasteners in Wolverhampton. His vision was simple but ambitious. He set out to manufacture high quality, non standard fasteners in exotic materials. From day one, the focus was on small to medium batch specials made to drawing. That commitment still defines our work today and remains a key strength within UK manufacturing.

At the turn of the millennium, Hague Fasteners joined Richards & Allan (Nuts & Bolts) Ltd and European Breakdown Bolting (EBB Ltd), trading collectively as The Ralin Group. In 2010, we proudly returned to the original Hague Fasteners Limited name. This change reaffirmed our heritage, our independence, and our long standing reputation as a trusted supplier of critical fasteners.

Team photo- celebration 50 years in UK manufacturing
Team photo- Celebration of 50 years in UK Manufacturing

Expanding Capabilities and Strengthening Quality

Over the years, our capabilities have grown significantly. In 2017, we invested in a new manufacturing centre in Willenhall, a Black Country town known for its engineering heritage. This custom refitted facility doubled our capacity and reduced lead times. It also reinforced our commitment to producing critical fasteners with exceptional accuracy and reliability.

As a third generation family manufacturing business, we continue to build on this foundation. Our dedication to quality, service, and responsiveness has earned the trust of clients worldwide. Furthermore, our ongoing social media growth now allows us to share that journey with millions. People who may never have stepped inside a factory can now see the care that goes into every order.

A Message From Max Hague, Accounts Manager

“My brothers and I are so proud of how far the business has come, and we are excited to see exceptional results across our social platforms, especially Instagram and Facebook. Over 41 million people have seen one of our videos. That is the most viral one, and many others have passed 10 million views. I am extremely proud of our family business, and seeing more people outside the manufacturing industry engage with our work gives a real insight into UK manufacturing.”

His words reflect the pride and passion that drive our team every day. As our social media growth continues, we are committed to sharing more insights, more craftsmanship, and more of the engineering excellence behind our critical fasteners. In addition, our presence on Instagram and Facebook helps us connect with new audiences who might never have considered a future in UK manufacturing.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The future is bright. With strong momentum, a growing audience, and a renewed focus on digital engagement, we are ready to take UK manufacturing to even greater heights. Our investment in social media growth will continue to showcase the skill, precision, and dedication behind every order. It will also highlight why critical fasteners remain essential to industries around the world.

As we move forward, we will keep balancing tradition with innovation. Our family manufacturing business will stay rooted in quality and service, while our online presence opens new doors. Therefore, whether you discover us through a viral video or a long term partnership, you will see the same commitment to excellence in everything we do.

Work With Hague Fasteners

If you need bespoke critical fasteners or want to learn more about our capabilities, get in touch with Hague Fasteners. We are always ready to discuss urgent requirements, complex specifications, and long term supply partnerships.

Connect With Us on Social Media

Follow our journey as UK manufacturing continues to grow online. See more behind the scenes content, viral clips and engineering insights.

West Midlands Fasteners – A trip back in time

Hague Fasteners have been at the forefront of Special Fastener manufacturing in the West Midlands for over forty years and are rightly proud of their Special Fastener History.

Many of our Customers remember the Hague name from the early years when Hague Fasteners first commenced manufacturing in the heart of the Black Country Fasteners industry in the West Midlands.

In their formative years Hague Fasteners services many industries with their precision engineering components. From the earliest North Sea drilling projects alongside Shell & Phillips Oil, to main line pumping solutions with Weir Pumps, Hague excelled in the rapid production of Quality Fasteners and Taylormade Bolting Solutions.

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Click Image To Open PDF Brochure From 1973

Take a trip down memory lane ! We are proud to publish from our archives one of our earliest Custom Fastener Brochures which shows proudly a few of the early collaborations with some of the Worlds top engineering service companies.

Keep tuned to Hague Fasteners news as we proudly show off more of our historic Fastener Brochures.

Final Video Release by High School Work Experience Colleague Jack

Posted a little later than originally planned, we are really pleased with the final video created by Smestow School work experience colleague Jack during his work placement with us based on the history  & origins of Hague Fasteners Limited.

His inspiration for this video was Hague Fasteners founder Jack Hague’s origins in the industrial area around Sheffield in North England, leading to the creation and development of the company in the English Midlands city of Wolverhampton, which was back in 1971 part of Staffordshire.

The fledgling company of Hague Fasteners soon developed during the 1970s and 1980s into a global powerhouse of  fastener manufacturing and the video leads on to explore this proud tradition of producing custom fasteners for the UK Home Countries as well as for export to a wide range of industries around the world.

What an amazing tribute from one Jack to another.

The world has changed a lot since 1971.  Some industries have almost disappeared (Ship building), newer industries have been created (Renewable Energies in the Power Generation sector), but whatever your industry or location in the world we are here to assist you with any enquiry you may have for special fasteners. 

Please contact us today with your RFQs for any special fastener in any of the wide range of materials commercially available.