UEF is still largely known around the district as Garringtons, having been set up in a factory at Aston Fields during the late 1940s that during World War II had been a "shadow factory" occupied by Deritend Stamping Company from Birmingham.

Such was its importance as a big employer that council houses at Housman Close at Charford were allocated to key workers, with many from Scotland.

Garringtons arrival was opportune at a time when long established employers in the town such as the Guild and the Wagon Works were winding down.

In its heyday in the 1960s and 70s when it was the largest producer of engine conrods in Europe its workforce was in excess of 3,000.

The firm justifiably had a reputation as a good payer and for staff welfare.

For this reason it escaped much of the industrial troubles that beset firms during the turbulent years 30 years ago.

But by the mid 1990s the recession and loss of traditional markets meant the workforce had dwindled to around 600.