A £7M white goods venture may not be a family-run firm’s last endeavour into household appliances, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Ebac yesterday officially became the only UK-based washer maker when production started at its plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Bosses say the project could deliver around 100 jobs over the next 18 months, revealing it has the capacity to make 200,000 machines a year.

The business is targeting North-East independent retailers to drive initial sales, with Newcastle-based Fenwick just one of a number of companies signed up to stock the appliances.

Its status as the only UK-based washing machine maker fills a gap created when Indesit took production of Hotpoint machines to Italy.

However, John Elliott, the business’ founder and chairman, has refused to rule out expanding into tumble-dryers, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners to strengthen its market standing.

Mr Elliott also said the firm, known for its watercoolers and dehumidifiers, was ready to launch an assault on the US watercooler market, with talks well underway to get its products in the country.

Referring to potential future expansion, he told The Northern Echo: “There is a lot of demand for the washers and it seems we’ve got it right.

“We will build up work in a controlled way and in three years I hope we can be three times bigger than we are today.

“Maybe we have done the most difficult one first with washing machines?

“They have got to be tough because they do a lot of hard work, so it was vital we got it right.

“Tumble-dryers, washerdryers, dishwashers, it is much the same.

“This is the beginning, it is not the end.

“We really need to start thinking about expansion because we sometimes forget how good we are.

“We make the best dehumidifiers in the world and our watercoolers are up there too.”

Mr Elliott said the business, which employs around 200 staff, was targeting initial annual washer sales of around 50,000, but said its foundation, which gives profits back to the company for future growth, rather than to shareholders, provides it a little more freedom.

He also reiterated a vow made numerous times that he will not hide behind the British flag when it comes to sales.

He added: “The benefit of Ebac is that we don’t have shareholders, so we can think about the long-term.

“We don’t expect people to pay more for buying British; they shouldn’t have to.

“If we make a smaller margin, so be it.

“It has got to be the right price.

“Buying British might swing someone but it is not a reason to buy it; it’s got to be a good washing machine first and do the job.

“We use common sense and look at what really counts and what the customer values.”

Ebac also previously bought the collapsed Scottish Highlands-based Icetech Freezers operation and moved production of its Norfrost chest freezer range to the North-East.