Longwood based textile company Wooltex UK to extend its premises to meet rising demand. The move, which is awaiting planning approval, will add 40,000sq ft to its existing 65,000sq ft of space that will create more space for additional machinery and increase manufacturing capacity in the areas of warping, weaving, fabric finishing and sample making.

The expansion drive represents a multi-million pound investment for the company. Managing director Peter Timmins said that the company had grown every year since its launch and sales had tripled since 2010. More than 90% of its products are exported, mainly to the EU

Peter Timmins further added that they have products that the end-users are crying out for but they have got to the point where their current facilities are not big enough to cope with the increasing demand. They have got to the stage where they cannot get one more weaving machine in this building. They are already having to outsource some weaving, which is logistically difficult.

Building the new extension and extending the existing manufacturing facility will also allow to go into new areas of manufacture which they have previously sub-contracted out, such as fabric finishing.

The increase in demand also reflected the revival in the appeal of wool-based products following a major marketing campaign by the wider industry. For the type of thing they produce, wool ticks every single box, he said.

Contract fabrics manufacturer Wooltex UK to take its total workforce to more than 100 by the end of the year. The firm supplies fabrics for uses including office seating, office dividers and seats in cinemas and theatres, has also tabled plans to extend its Woodland Mill premises onto a neighbouring site.