Behind the Scene: An Inside Look at Leigh Industries



Behind the Scene: An Inside Look at Leigh Industries

My trip to Leigh Industries, located just outside Vancouver, BC was to get an up-close look at their new products. I took a cursory look at those in the story “Leigh Dovetail Jigs: New Design, Affordably Priced” and will examine the new jigs more in-depth in a future “Tool Test” article in Popular Woodworking magazine.

In addition, I was treated to a behind the scenes look at the company that’s known for dovetailing jigs.

Let’s begin at the Leigh building and a bit of history about the company. It’s been 25 years since founder and CEO, Ken Grisley along with his wife Joan, opened the doors of Leigh Industries. Leigh’s website has more history for those interested.

With 2003 came a new building. The forward thinking, Ken built the building with space for a tenant – or room to grow. They hope to expand into the additional space sometime in the future.

Enter the Leigh headquarters and you’re treated to furniture that’s created by Jeff Greenup, using the Leigh jigs. The work represents the earliest dovetail jigs to the patented Isoloc joints and the FMT that produces mortise and tenon joints of all kinds. Some projects were built as the jig was developed or released to woodworkers. Inspiration is more than abundant and you realize the extensive joinery that is completed using their jigs.

The office area is the company home for CEO, Ken along with Matt Grisley, the President & General Manager, and Production & Purchasing Manager, Steve Grisley. I was told that the business wasn’t intended to be a family operation. It just happened that way. After a few years in other endeavors, Matt came to work for the business with the idea that if any issues developed, he’d move on (Ken had witnessed squabbles between members of a family business while in England and wanted no part of that). That doesn’t seem to have happened. Later Steve joined the business and took over the duties that dovetailed nicely with his past job experiences.

All totaled there are 15 employees that keep the cogs turning at Leigh. Interestingly, there are a few seasonal employees and during the slow season the numbers drop slightly. And, the slow season is summertime when most woodworkers have too much going on to get into the shop.

Move through the rear doors and you’re into the business end of Leigh. The light manufacturing, assembly, warehousing and shipping is completed in the back portion of the building.

Extruded aluminum for the bodies is brought in, cut to length and receives light milling before it’s shipped out to receive a special finish. Recently Leigh Industries brought in a Haas VF4 to do the milling in house. While the Haas machine does milling to the bodies, its main task is manufacturing the templates. Parts that were once contracted out are now closely watched to assure the quality that’s inherent in Leigh jigs.

When the bodies and other parts return the assembly of the jigs begins. Stations attach the parts to the base, add the fingers of the dovetail template, router bits are boxed and added to the kits then the jigs themselves are slid into the boxes and stored, ready for shipment.

Your purchase starts the ball rolling and keeps the cogs turning.

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