Quality yarn helps Yorkshire's newest worsted factory win business for UK

1st August 2012

New investment to boost production is underway at a West Yorkshire commercial wool spinning factory.

Guiseley-based Laxtons Specialist Yarns is one of Yorkshire’s longest-established textile companies, and with backing from Yorkshire Bank’s West Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) in Bradford has acquired a bespoke specialist yarn production machine.

Two years ago it launched the first new commercial wool worsted manufacturing in the UK for 25 years, to keep pace with growing demand for British-made yarns.

The yarn production machine is only the second in the UK – the company acquired the first two years ago – and is among only a handful worldwide. It is enabling family-business to increase its capacity to combine three spinning technologies to create yarns with more sophisticated variable patterns.

This acquisition follows the company’s investment in two other spinning machines, taking its total to 15, which enables Laxtons to maintain fast lead times.

The business has invested almost £1m in its manufacturing facility and has recently installed a new packing line so it can provide a packing for some specialist items as part of a move towards providing a from “field-to-finished-product” service.

Laxtons Specialist yarns managing director, James Laxton, said: “Since launching the commercial wool worsted manufacturing facility in 2010 we have increased turnover by 30 per cent and have created several new jobs as well as safeguarding existing ones.

“We have been pleasantly surprised by the growing number of well-known brands which want to buy British. Although in the past they have bought cheaper yarns overseas, the cost of their finished fabric rose due to poor weaving efficiency creating more mending and greater returns. By switching to our British-made yarn, they have increased efficiencies, reduced, or eliminated, mending and returns and are radically reducing their costs allowing them to become more competitive.

“Yorkshire Bank is assisting us in many ways. As well as supporting our every day banking and latest capital investment, we also have a foreign exchange facility as 50 per cent of our product is exported worldwide.”

Andy Cook, business partner at Yorkshire Bank’s West Yorkshire FSC said: “The UK economy needs more successful manufacturers and exporters such as Laxtons Specialist Yarns and we’re pleased to be supporting such a bold and exciting business.”