Coatings giant sticks with Runcorn for new HQ
THE UK arm of international coatings manufacturer Whitford is on the move to a new home in the region.
The US company, which makes a range of coatings with uses varying from non-stick kitchen pans to valves used in oil and gas production, has outgrown its existing base at Manor Park, Runcorn.
After agreeing a £2m loan from Yorkshire Bank, Whitford is is expanding to a new European HQ – a four-acre manufacturing plant less than one mile away in Stuart Road. This will increase office space by 90%, the laboratory space by 90% and the factory space by 70%.
Whitford manufactures and sells to more than 100 countries and has more than 80 offices worldwide. It has around 80 staff and expects to add another 10 people after the move in August.
Strong demand has prompted the investment with 2011 sales of £19m – up more than 30% in the 2010 figure of £13m.
European finance manager David Johnson, said: “We have been looking at new facilities for the past two years. We needed to grow to help service an increased demand for our products but wanted to stay within Runcorn.
“The new plant in Stuart Road is an ideal location for us to continue to expand and service the rest of Europe and further afield.”
Steve Butler, business partner at Yorkshire Bank in Liverpool, said: “It’s great news for the region to keep a company of this size and stature in the area.
“The variety of sectors Whitford supplies is testament to the flexibility of the product and is one of the main reasons why the business has been so successful. The business is growing day-by-day and we are glad we can support this expansion.”
One of its biggest turnover markets is housewares, selling non-stick fluoropolymer coatings, a blend of high performance resins and lubricants.
One of the most successful products to use Whitford’s coatings is the George Foreman Grill, having sold in the region of 100 million units across the globe.
It is also the world’s largest manufacturer of fluoropolymer coatings to the automotive market, with manufacturers such as Audi and Volkswagen using Whitford coatings to avoid problems arising from abrasion, corrosion and noise.
