Manufacturing to end at long-running Brierley Hill firm and 28 jobs set to go

Manufacturing is set to cease at Link51 in Brierley Hill, with 28 jobs set to be axed.

Whittan has confirmed the news today (Tuesday April 28) following a consultation with staff at Link51 - the UK’s largest manufacturer of steel shelving and pallet racking.

The company, based in Mill Street, has been going for 75 years since 1951.

Jon Luvaglio, head of marketing at parent company Whittan, said in a statement: “Following a period of consultation with colleagues at its Brierley Hill factory, Whittan has taken the difficult decision to cease UK manufacturing of its Euro and Stormor shelving ranges from the site with effect from June 30 2026.

“The change will result in 28 roles being made redundant. The company is working closely with affected employees and will provide appropriate support during this period.

“Whittan would like to thank the Brierley Hill manufacturing team for their commitment and contribution over many years.”

The Euro and Stormor products sold under the company’s Link brand have been manufactured at the original site for decades, giving the facility a strong heritage in the local area.

The decision to drop the products reflects the changing shape of the shelving market, the business said, citing increasing pressure from overseas imports and the growth of online sales for having reduced demand for engineered shelving products.

Whittan said some operations will remain at the site despite the ending of manufacturing there.

Two other shelving products, Longspan and Stockrax, will be absorbed into existing Whittan manufacturing facilities in Milton Keynes and Telford.

Manufacture and delivery of Whittan’s core product ranges, including pallet racking and lockers, will continue unchanged and Whittan said it remains fully committed to supporting its loyal and valued customers.

Link51, part of Whittan Storage Solutions which is headquartered in Telford, started out as The Handy Angle more than 70 years ago. Over the years it grew to become the UK’s largest manufacturer of steel shelving and pallet racking. Its products, which can be configured for all storage requirements, are used in every sector, from manufacturing, to retail, e-commerce, logistics and distribution.

Father and son James and Peter Kinnear established the business in Brierley Hill, with just six staff starting out. It began as a general steel fabricator but the decision was taken to concentrate on storage solutions - tapping into the demand for purpose-built storage equipment - and in 1966 it became known as Link51.

Over the years it has provided storage solutions for UK-leading and household brands and organisations with its products used in warehouses, stores, offices and organisations across industries and sectors.

Its top jobs included creating space to store defence equipment onboard a Royal Navy submarine, creating housing for 13.5 million litres of Macallan single malt, protecting Stella McCartney’s couture archives, providing secure storage lockers for offices, schools and gyms, and creating storage for decades of film reel for the British Film Institute.

Clients have included outdoor clothing and footwear brand Regatta, The British Army, Bedfordshire Police, Network Rail, Gloucestershire hospitals, Glamorgan Archives and Glenmorangie distillery to mention a few.