Thumbs Up invests for growth

A BURY manufacturer is to increase capacity after securing a six-figure asset finance package.

Thumbs Up, which makes plastic housewares and storage products, has used the money from Yorkshire Bank to buy 10 injection moulding machines.

This will increase annual production by 6% from 69 million pieces to 73 million, enough to support growth plans in the UK and European Union where the firm already sells to Germany, Italy, France and Spain.

Founded in 1978 by John McGuinness, Thumbs Up employs 250 staff at its production and distribution facility at Dumers Lane, Bury, and produces over 2,000 different product lines.

Managing director Richard McGuinness said: “This new asset finance facility from Yorkshire Bank will enable us to continue our investment in state of the art machinery, keeping us at the forefront of new technology, notwithstanding challenging economic times.”

Stephen Cox, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank’s business banking Centre in Manchester, said: “Thumbs Up has a highly capable management team, sound financial controls, and a great – and growing – product range that underscores its enterprising credentials.

“Given these powerful drivers, it isn’t surprising that Thumbs Up has generated impressive year-on-year growth that augurs well for the future.”