DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2022
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS The Eastern Company, and its subsidiaries (the “Company,” “Eastern,” “we,” “us” or “our”) manages industrial businesses that design, manufacture and sell engineered solutions to industrial markets. Eastern’s businesses operate in industries with long-term macroeconomic growth opportunities. We look to acquire businesses that produce stable and growing earnings and cash flows. Eastern may pursue acquisitions in industries other than those in which its businesses currently operate if an acquisition presents an attractive opportunity. Eastern manages the financial, operational, and strategic performance of its businesses to increase cash generation, operating earnings, and long-term shareholder value. Eastern encompasses four operating entities within the United States, one wholly owned Canadian subsidiary located in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, a wholly owned Taiwanese subsidiary located in Taipei, Taiwan, a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, two wholly owned Chinese subsidiaries (one located in Shanghai, China, and one located in Dongguan, China), a wholly owned subsidiary in Reynosa, Mexico and a wholly owned subsidiary in Wrexham, United Kingdom. Company Operations The Company’s operations consist of Big 3 Precision, including Big 3 Precision Products, Inc. (“Big 3 Products”) and Big 3 Mold Services, Inc. (“Big 3 Mold”), Hallink Moulds, Inc. (“Hallink Moulds”), and Associated Toolmakers Ltd. (“Associated Toolmakers”); Eberhard Manufacturing Company (“Eberhard Manufacturing”), Eberhard Hardware Manufacturing Ltd. (“Eberhard Hardware”), Eastern Industrial Ltd, World Lock Company Ltd., Dongguan Reeworld Security Products Ltd., and World Security Industries (together “Eberhard”); and Velvac Holdings Inc. (“Velvac”). These businesses design, manufacture, and market a diverse product line of custom and standard vehicular and industrial hardware, including turnkey returnable packaging solutions, access and security hardware, mirrors, and mirror-cameras. Big 3 Products and Big 3 Mold’s turnkey returnable packaging solutions are used in the assembly processes of vehicles, aircraft, and durable goods and in the production processes of plastic packaging products, packaged consumer goods and pharmaceuticals. Big 3 Products works with original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) to design and produce custom returnable transport packaging to integrate with OEM assembly processes. Big 3 Mold designs and manufactures blow mold tools. Hallink Moulds is a producer of injection blow mold tooling and is a supplier of blow molds and change parts to the food, beverage, healthcare, and chemical industry. Hallink specializes in the design, development and manufacture of 2-step stretch blow molds, and related components for the stretch blow molding industry offering integrated turnkey solutions to its customers worldwide. In 2020, we combined all businesses associated with Eberhard Manufacturing and Illinois Lock Company to create Eberhard, which specializes in the engineering and manufacturing of access and security hardware. Eberhard offers a standard product line of rotary latches, compression latches, draw latches, hinges, camlocks, key switches, padlocks, and handles among other products, as well as comprehensive development and program management services for custom electromechanical and mechanical systems designed for specific OEMs and customer applications. Eberhard’s products are found in an expansive range of applications and products globally. Velvac is a designer and manufacturer of proprietary vision technology for OEMs and aftermarket applications, and a provider of aftermarket components to the heavy-duty truck market in North America. Velvac serves diverse, niche segments within the heavy- and medium-duty truck, motorhome, and bus markets. Sales are made to customers primarily in North America.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2022

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

The Eastern Company, and its subsidiaries (the “Company,” “Eastern,” “we,” “us” or “our”) manages industrial businesses that design, manufacture and sell engineered solutions to industrial markets. Eastern’s businesses operate in industries with long-term macroeconomic growth opportunities. We look to acquire businesses that produce stable and growing earnings and cash flows. Eastern may pursue acquisitions in industries other than those in which its businesses currently operate if an acquisition presents an attractive opportunity.

Eastern manages the financial, operational, and strategic performance of its businesses to increase cash generation, operating earnings, and long-term shareholder value.

Eastern encompasses four operating entities within the United States, one wholly owned Canadian subsidiary located in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, a wholly owned Taiwanese subsidiary located in Taipei, Taiwan, a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, two wholly owned Chinese subsidiaries (one located in Shanghai, China, and one located in Dongguan, China), a wholly owned subsidiary in Reynosa, Mexico and a wholly owned subsidiary in Wrexham, United Kingdom.

Company Operations

The Company’s operations consist of Big 3 Precision, including Big 3 Precision Products, Inc. (“Big 3 Products”) and Big 3 Mold Services, Inc. (“Big 3 Mold”), Hallink Moulds, Inc. (“Hallink Moulds”), and Associated Toolmakers Ltd. (“Associated Toolmakers”); Eberhard Manufacturing Company (“Eberhard Manufacturing”), Eberhard Hardware Manufacturing Ltd. (“Eberhard Hardware”), Eastern Industrial Ltd, World Lock Company Ltd., Dongguan Reeworld Security Products Ltd., and World Security Industries (together “Eberhard”); and Velvac Holdings Inc. (“Velvac”). These businesses design, manufacture, and market a diverse product line of custom and standard vehicular and industrial hardware, including turnkey returnable packaging solutions, access and security hardware, mirrors, and mirror-cameras.

Big 3 Products and Big 3 Mold’s turnkey returnable packaging solutions are used in the assembly processes of vehicles, aircraft, and durable goods and in the production processes of plastic packaging products, packaged consumer goods and pharmaceuticals. Big 3 Products works with original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) to design and produce custom returnable transport packaging to integrate with OEM assembly processes. Big 3 Mold designs and manufactures blow mold tools. Hallink Moulds is a producer of injection blow mold tooling and is a supplier of blow molds and change parts to the food, beverage, healthcare, and chemical industry. Hallink specializes in the design, development and manufacture of 2-step stretch blow molds, and related components for the stretch blow molding industry offering integrated turnkey solutions to its customers worldwide.

In 2020, we combined all businesses associated with Eberhard Manufacturing and Illinois Lock Company to create Eberhard, which specializes in the engineering and manufacturing of access and security hardware. Eberhard offers a standard product line of rotary latches, compression latches, draw latches, hinges, camlocks, key switches, padlocks, and handles among other products, as well as comprehensive development and program management services for custom electromechanical and mechanical systems designed for specific OEMs and customer applications. Eberhard’s products are found in an expansive range of applications and products globally.

Velvac is a designer and manufacturer of proprietary vision technology for OEMs and aftermarket applications, and a provider of aftermarket components to the heavy-duty truck market in North America. Velvac serves diverse, niche segments within the heavy- and medium-duty truck, motorhome, and bus markets.

Sales are made to customers primarily in North America.