Brintons Carpets shows commitment to UK manufacturing by selecting its Kidderminster plant for the next phase of expansion of its High Definition Weave technology.
As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality woven carpets, Brintons MD, Don Coates reflects on what sets Brintons apart from the competition, “Our brand reputation is built on design innovation, product excellence, technical expertise and customer focus; it’s essential we continue to invest in all of these areas to ensure our future success.” High Definition Weave is pioneering technology developed by Brintons and allows us to weave carpets and rugs in up to 32 colours, giving our customers unrivalled design definition and colour choice. Brintons manufactures in the UK, Portugal and India, having made the decision to sell its Chinese operation last year to focus on existing plants. Brintons employs over 500 people in the UK across its Kidderminster and Telford sites and this latest investment will create new jobs in both locations. Investing in the UK will bring a real boost to not only the local economy, but also to British carpet making as a whole. Brintons has a strong owner backing management and funding growth through investment and acquisition. The intention is to build on Brintons’ illustrious heritage, ensuring this 230-year-old brand maintains its worldwide leadership position.
Coates comments, “We have a very clear view of how we deliver value for our customers; our mission is to make the world a more beautiful place, which we have been doing for over 200 years. We have a fantastic employee ethos with tremendous commitment to the business and the Brintons brand; we will go the extra mile to help our customers achieve their goals.”
Investing in people is as vital as investing in technology, so at the same time Brintons has announced the launch of the Brintons Apprenticeship programme. Brintons will be recruiting around 8 engineering apprentices between the Telford and Kidderminster sites. This is a fantastic investment in engineering resource for both the UK and for the Brintons group as a whole.
Coates explains, “Our customers are incredibly discerning, so we work hard to stay one step ahead. We have just filed our company accounts that report a significant turnaround, so we are in a strong position to invest in our people, products and our unrivalled technology. This is good news for our business and a reflection of the hard work and commitment of the management team and of all our employees worldwide, and of the support from our customers. Of course there is still a lot of work to do, but I am confident that we will be successful in our goal of continued business growth.”
Brintons also plans to expand its spinning facility in Telford following the decision by Axminster Carpets to close their operation in Buckfast and sell off equipment. Brintons yarn processing capacity will increase by over a third to support the companys sales growth plans.
Editors Note:
I am delighted to see Brintons new management starting to reverse the ruinous policies of previous management. I have been an admirer of the company since my first visit to the Kidderminster factory in the 1980’s, and have always thought the foreign investments a mistake. With a design archive going back into the 18th century, the tradition of technical and design innovation is strong. If the company is moving forward to build this once more it is great news for UK Ltd.
I was immensely saddened by the disaster at Axminster, brought about I suspect by environmental demands, but I am delighted with yesterdays news that they are being saved, at least in part. I hope this and the investment of some £3 million being made by Brintons is a sign of a resurgence of UK carpet manufacturing
