Supplier becomes a manufacturer in reshoring move

A SMALL Lancashire company which supplies bakery and food processing equipment has become a manufacturer to avoid a potential revenue hit.

Family-owned Interbake of Rossendale near Bury was forced to reshore after a contract with its Canadian manufacturer was terminated.

With the help of the Manufacturing Advisory Service the seven-strong company developed its own depositing machine, a move which has safeguarded revenue and jobs.

With the support of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), through the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, Interbake had its machine, called the Triple D Depositor ready for a major trade exhibition in Birmingham in late March.
 
The machine, which is used by food manufacturers to fill cakes and savouries with fillings such as creams and jam, generated significant orders and inquiries.

As a result of bringing the production of one of their key products to the UK, Interbake now has plans to develop a number of new food manufacturing and processing products and to expand its workforce.  It has also recently purchased the adjoining unit and a further 9,000 sq.ft. of floor space.
 
Managing director David Dunne said: “We knew that we had the expertise and know-how to build a machine that would perform even better than the one we had been importing from Canada and realized that our own machine had great potential if we could get it to market.

“We’re very proud to be bringing a home-grown invention to market and working with MAS has also given us the confidence to build on this pilot product and look at what other machines we can develop and manufacture in the UK in the future.”
 
MAS adviser Nick Brandwood added: “Interbake reacted to a potential crisis by opting to design and produce their own replacement machines and as a result have been able to generate both more customers and increased profits.”