Bathware supplier pumps £750,000 into future growth

Trojan, a West Yorkshire-based acrylic bath manufacturer, has confirmed an expansion of its gel coat shower tray division, Traymate.

Following the relocation of Traymate Products Ltd to Huddersfield in May 2023, the business was absorbed into Trojan in January 2024 and with it a programme of planned investment.

Traymate, previously located in Essex, was acquired by Trojan’s parent company, Hartford Holdings Group Ltd, in 2021 for £2.85m as a strategic acquisition to supply design-led minimalist shower trays into the market.

The transition to Yorkshire was aimed at consolidating operations and capitalising on Trojan’s extensive manufacturing infrastructure.

The new site in Longwood, Huddersfield, close to Trojan’s existing manufacturing facility, consists of a 46,000 sq ft building on a three-acre site.

The move has created 26 new jobs and includes a planned, costed and group-funded investment programme of £750,000 which began in January.

Investments include new master and production moulds, as well as additional equipment including two enclosed gel coat spray booths and an additional casting and packing machine, all designed to further improve quality and output.

To facilitate the transition, Trojan has made several key appointments including David Dickinson as operations manager.

Dickinson brings 20 years of experience in engineering and operations predominantly from the automotive industry and will be instrumental in driving Traymate’s production efficiency and focusing on additional quality standards.

He said: “Recruiting, training and retaining motivated employees to drive the Traymate division forward has been a challenge, but we now have an excellent core team who are adding value in what is a positive atmosphere.”

David Mosley, managing director of Trojan, added: “The move to the new site has not been without its challenges but the investment into new equipment and staff mark an exciting new chapter for Traymate as we set out to significantly improve our capacity on shower tray production as well as further improve our quality standards.

“As we look to celebrate our 50th year in 2025, our commitment to reinvestment, innovation and growth remains unwavering as does our passion for delivering the best of British to customers worldwide.”