W&J Knox Ltd
W & J Knox Ltd was first established 240 years ago when the Knox family set up a small textile mill in Kilbirnie to spin the locally-grown flax fibre and to manufacture linen thread. It was first registered as a company in 1778 then subsequently named W & J Knox in the 1800s by the sons of the founder. Knox have been making nets for fish farmers worldwide since the industry’s beginnings, producing a range of customised cage nets, bird nets, predator solutions, sweep and sampling nets. In conjunction with our partners, Garware-Wall Ropes, we now also supply lice shields, treatment tarpaulins and wrasse hides. We are the Scottish distributor for LiftUp mortality extraction systems and exclusively use Steen-Hansen antifoulant and polish coatings on our nets. The Knox family was involved with the company for the first 200 years, with ownership passing through the generations, and agents being set up all over the world.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Aquaculture
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1778
This company also provides solutions for other industrial applications.
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About us
Hearsay places an agent in New Zealand only 10 years after Captain Cook’s discovery, and written records show trade agreements in place in the early 1800s in Canada. Cosalt plc purchased the company from Linndustries in the 1970s, with ownership passing to the local management team in 2004, following an MBO.
We believe it’s the fact that Knox has continually moved on and embraced other markets and products that is the reason the company is still in existence after so many years. The early family business spun flax fibre and became well-known worldwide for linen thread, and a vast range of twines. For many years, the company also processed carpet yarn, and this business continues on our site under separate ownership. Trawls were produced for over one hundred years for traditional fishing, by hand from natural fibres, then by machine, with Knox becoming deeply involved in the manufacture of knotless Raschel nets for aquaculture in the early 1970s. The business has further diversified in the last decade, with a partnership with Indian company, Garware-Wall Ropes, and the active development of new netting products.
Here's to the next 100 years.