Company prepares for washing machine expansion (From The Northern Echo)
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Ebac, in Newton Aycliffe, to become UK's first washing machine manufacturer for six years
6:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Business News
By Steven Hugill
MADE IN BRITAIN: Pamela Petty, left, Ebac managing director, with project design engineer Jeff Palin
A FAMILY-RUN company will begin work on expanding its factory as it prepares to become the first UK-based washing machine manufacturer for six years.
County Durham firm Ebac could produce up to 100,000 washing machines at its Newton Aycliffe plant.
The company hopes to create about 200 jobs and production is expected to start in the next 18 months.
The UK imports about four million washing machines a year and it is believed Ebac will be the first British-based manufacturer since 2007, when Indesit moved production of Hotpoint machines to Italy.
Work on a new production line at its factory will start this year.
The firm, founded in 1973 by John Elliott, currently employs 186 people and makes dehumidifiers and water coolers.
It launched its washing machine venture after receiving £1m from the Regional Growth Fund to help finance a £7m project, and hopes to raise another £6m through private finance to create an additional manufacturing facility near its headquarters on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate.
Pamela Petty, Ebac's group managing director, said: “When we considered our ability to manufacture washing machines and other appliances, we saw a strong, economically viable market, which we are fully capable of serving.
“We know there is a strong, willing workforce and believe we can recruit an excellent team for this extra work.
“Having looked at the options of developing a new site, we felt to expand what we do in our existing facility would only serve to increase the efficiency of production across all of our manufacturing lines.
“As well as making the processes more efficient, it adds even greater strength and security to our position as a County Durham employer, which is good news for us and the wider economy.”
The company is looking to fill vacancies in its accounts and IT departments to help with the first stage of the expansion.
The move has been welcomed by Newton Aycliffe MP Phil Wilson, who said the project was a boost to the region's business industry.
He said: “I attended the launch of the Ebac Foundation last year and one of the principals of the foundation was a commitment to County Durham.
“This cements that loyalty and support for the community.”
To find out more about the vacancies, see tomorrow's Jobs and Business supplement in The Northern Echo.
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