TWO leading textile firms have joined forces for a £2m investment in the future – and to create jobs.
Camira Fabrics, with operations in Meltham and Mirfield, have linked up with long-standing textile dyeing and finishing partner Holmfirth Dyers, to set up Park Valley Dyers.
A state-of-the-art dyehouse – the first of its kind to be built in the UK for 20 years – has been installed at Park Valley Mills, Lockwood.
Now it is set to help award-winning Camira Fabric to supply high quality fabric to cover seats on buses and trains for customers including First Group, Transport for London, the Paris Metro and London Underground.
The dyehouse, which is capable of handling 50 tonnes of material a week, has already created five jobs with more expected as production increases.
Cheryl Kindness, development director at Camira, said the dyehouse had been designed specifically for the firm’s Holdsworth-branded transport fabrics.
The project began just 12 months ago when work to install the plant got under way last July. The first batch of fabrics was produced just six months later.
By taking direct control of the yarn dyeing operation, Camira expects to cut lead times by a third – improving its responsiveness to customers – and speed up development from initial sampling to bulk production.
She said: “I am so excited about this and the potential we have got here. This development means we can do things no one else can.”
The new plant provides total flexibility of dye batches from a single 2kg yarn cone up to two tonnes with consistency of quality and colour.
Facilities include a state-of-the-art laboratory with the latest technology to ensure fabrics remain colour-fast even when exposed to light and heavy use.
The plant uses a warm air drying process, which provides a softer finish to the fabric than more usual infra-red drying.
Computer controlled process technology ensures accuracy of dye recipes while the plant boasts “100% dye exhaustion” – meaning that clean water is discharged to the sewer after use.
Other environmental features include an energy-efficient hot water boiler backed by hot water recovery for re-use in subsequent dye batches.
The project was masterminded by Camira managing director Phil Brearley and laboratory manager Sue Taylor, who between them have more than 60 years textile dyeing expertise serving some of the biggest names in clothing and interior fabrics.
Said Mr Brearley: “Park Valley Dyers has gone from concept to reality in less than 12 months and is already producing 20 tonnes over a single shift five-days.
“It also has the capacity to cover our projected growth requirements over the next five years.”
The dyehouse is part of even bigger plans for the Park Valley mills site, which Holmfirth Dyers bought more than a year ago.
Holmfirth Dyers managing director Brian Duckett said plans were now being prepared to provide industrial units for let on the 13-acre site, which has been left empty for many years.
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney, who officially opened the new dyehouse, said the development was part of a trend of resurgence for British manufacturing.
He said: “Economic times are a bit tough, but I am an upbeat person and today is a really positive day. I am proud that this investment is happening in my constituency and in our community.”
