Warwickshire manufacturer invests to become world leader

A WARWICKSHIRE manufacturer is embarking on an investment strategy designed to tap into new markets.

Alcester-based Smith Brothers & Webb, manufactures commercial vehicle washing machines under the brand Britannia Washing Systems.

Its machines are designed to wash trains, trams, buses, coaches, commercial vehicles and municipal vehicles such as road sweepers and refuse trucks. All of the machines are designed and built at the company’s base in Warwickshire.

Its train washing machines can clean up to 200 carriages an hour in any order of presentation for different gauge rolling stock, and its Britannia Streamline bus washing equipment can clean up to 80 buses an hour. Machines can be fitted with water reclamation systems.

The £250,000 investment will lead to improved manufacturing processes, enhanced IT processes and new customer relationship management systems.

The company already exports to Australia, Hong Kong and India as well as to many countries in Europe and the new investment – one of the largest ever committed to by the firm – is intended to see it established as a world leader in its chosen market.

Andy Barracliffe, director of Britannia Washing Systems, said: “We are proud of our 70-year history of engineering excellence and want to ensure that Smith Brothers & Webb will remain at the forefront for many years to come.

“To succeed in our highly competitive market we have to continue to invest and evolve, and we are committed to doing that.”

The expansion has already seen two new service engineers taken on, with a potential third in the pipeline for Scotland.