Union Industries is the trading title of Ralph Ellerker (1795) Ltd.

Union Industries was formed by Paul Schofield in 1972 as a Tarpaulin manufacturing and repair company operating out of a small factory in Hunslet, Leeds. 'Ellerkers' had served the needs of the rural community since 1795 as Cover Makers, Saddlers and Rope & Twine Merchants from its early 17 th century establishment by Walmgate Bar in the City of York.

Acquired by the Schofield family in 1973 'Ellerkers' was run along traditional lines until 1991 when its activities were absorbed into Union 's newly enlarged and refurbished factories in Leeds , known as Lion Works, Dreadnought Works and the administration block 'Angels Wing'. (so called because of the two large golden flying angels guarding the atrium entrances)

Isobel Schofield joined her husband in 1973 when she took over the running of Ellerkers. Here she had to not only learn all about the ropes & twines, saddles, harness, tarpaulins and vehicle sheets which were the life blood of Ellerkers trading activities but also to measure, design the multitude of various products Ellerker customers had been in the habit of buying for centuries for manufacture at Union's Leeds works.

She became an ace splicer of ropes in natural fibres of sisal, hemp, manila, cotton and all the man-mades from polypropylene to nylon and terylene in sizes from the slimness of a finger to the thickness of an arm. Fine Flax twine was used to hand net Rabbit Purse and Long Nets for Land Owners and Poachers alike.

If the products were not confusing enough the customers were something else - Dukes jostling with Gypsies for halters and bits; rustic farmers collecting Bailer Twine rubbing shoulders with 'Rockers' buying brass Rein Tips to decorate their leathers and the 'old boys' of York treating Ellerker's back room as a meeting place to suck their pipes, chew upon the latest gossip and argue the favourite for the day's big race.

Over the following 4 years Ellerkers became a really buzzy place and business was booming. The Schofields renovated the fabric of the ancient 3-storey building and restored the interior, retaining the charm of the place with its distinctive smell of leather, rope and tar. Meanwhile over in Leeds Union's Tarpaulin business was also expanding and was sorely in need of someone to manage production. In 1977 Isobel left Ellerkers in the competent hands of Jilly Blakeway its new Manager and threw herself into streamlining the manufacturing processes of Canvas Vehicle Sheets at Union's Lion Works.

Lion Works was in those days a rather run down Victorian building whose interior and conditions were typical of many industrial factories of the day. The general poor state of repair did not encourage methodical production techniques or efficient working practices.

It wasn't long however before everything was tidied up, building work put underway and new equipment installed. The very latest Hi-frequency track welder from Sweden , and the first in the UK , was commissioned. This was used to join the panels of the PVC coated fabrics that were just beginning to take over from the traditional Cotton Duck Canvas.

In order to cope with the growing order book the existing workforce had to be increased and Isobel began a training programme to attract young school leavers to join the company and improve their skills.

Money was invested year on year to expand the business. Union 's premises were enlarged by purchasing the two ex-chapels adjoining the original Lion Works factory.

One, re-named Dreadnought Works now houses the Engineering Department manufacturing the Matadoor™ Range of Hi-speed doors and the other named Angels' Wing now accommodates the Sales, Administration, Accounts, Design, Installation and Service Departments.

Whilst Isobel was sorting out production, Paul was sorting out new markets. As far back as 1980 he realised that conservation of energy did not only have a positive effect on the bottom line but was also beneficial to the environment. A range of dividing systems in Fire Retardant Translucent PVC Static Screens and Mobile Curtains was designed specifically for warehouses and factories. These could be used to enclose and heat or cool specific areas without wasting energy unnecessarily by controlling the temperature of the whole building. See Union Environmental

In 1981 the control of toxic particulate during paint stripping and spray processes was becoming a concern to companies specialising in Aircraft Maintenance.

A range of Tensioned manually operated Mobile Curtains in specially formulated Fire Retardant PVC was incorporated in the range.

These when used in conjunction with specially designed air filtration systems prevented toxic particulate and paint over spray from spreading from the stripping and paint spray areas to the maintenance and office areas.

In 1983 the dangers to health of Asbestos insulation present in hospitals, schools, public building, offices and homes hit the headlines in America.

Union designed the UNICUBE™ - a primary 3-stage Decontamination Unit. This was patented and sold throughout the United States and UK and ultimately exported to all developed countries worldwide.

This lead to designing specialist bespoke containment systems for nuclear, biological and chemical establishments.

In 1990 Union designed and patented the AUTOSTACK™ a Class O Fire rated electrically operated vertically retracting screen. See Union Environmental

The first Matadoor™ Range was therefore designed with a unique 'Crash-out' Facility. This caused not only the Bottom Beam and Door Blade to release itself from the side guides following impact, preventing damage to the Bottom Beam, but to then Re-set itself into the side guides at the beginning of the next closing cycle overcoming downtime to undertake repairs. Although the 'Crash-out' facility gave the Matadoor™ Range the edge above all its competitors during the early years it is equally these doors' consistency of quality, superior construction and unrivalled back up service which is prized by Union 's loyal customers and has made then the best selling Hi-speed door in the UK and Number 1 in the market.

The Matadoor™ Range now has a Hi-speed door for every application and location. See Hi-speed Doors

2002 saw the launch of the revolutionary new EIGER DOOR™ specifically designed for Freezer applications. This remarkable door not only eradicates the build of ice and frost around the door and the door opening synonymous with all traditional freezer doors, but also operates automatically and at high speed and benefits from Union 's Crash-out and Auto-reset facility.

This door was first greeted with understandable scepticism but now that it has been tried and tested and found to measure up to all the claims Union forecast, has been received with enthusiastic acclaim.

Paul & Isobel Schofield together with Union's design team are now working on a range of NBC/COLPRO (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical/Collective Protection) products for large organisation, Government bodies, local Councils, Emergency Services and private individuals.

These products are expected to be available towards the end of 2004.