UK precision moulder moves to new facility

Great Harwood, UK - Metflex Precision Mouldings Ltd,  precision rubber moulded component manufacturer, has moved to new, 40,000 sq ft (3700m2) purpose-built premises in Great Harwood, near Hyndburn in England's northwest.

New machinery has been added to increase production capacity and improve

the manufacturing process, thanks to a grant of

£20 000 (Euro 23 000) from the No Limits Finance4Growth programme, and five full-time jobs have already been

created, the firm said in a 27 Oct statement.

The official opening will take place on Wednesday 3 Nov, in the presence of the mayor of Hyndburn, councillor

Malcolm Pritchard, and the mayoress.

John Holland, Managing Director at Metflex said: “We are very proud of

our new facility in Great Harwood and the grant we have received has

been great. It has allowed us to purchase brand new up to date plant.

In the present climate where cash is tight, it is a great incentive to

businesses. We needed the presses to allow penetration into new markets

and since that time we have already fulfilled our obligation in creating

an additional five permanent positions within the company.”

Deputy council leader, Cllr Peter Clarke said, “Metflex are a real local

success story and I'm delighted that they have expanded the operation

and moved into these new premises on Alan Ramsbottom Way in Great

Harwood. In these challenging economic times this is fantastic news for

the local economy. ”

Metflex started as the Metropolitan Leather Co, based in the east end of London, but this base was destroyed in a bombing raid and the firm subsequently relocated to premises in Great Harwood in 1941. By the 1960s, and following extensive research into alternative materials, the company changed its name to Metropolitan Flexible Products (Metflex) and moved into polymer diaphragm and precision moulding production. Thorn EMI took control in 1971, followed by Schlumberger in 1989.

In 2003, Metflex became a private independently owned business, following a management buy-out from Schlumberger, and now specialises in the manufacture and supply of precision rubber moulded components and diaphragms to a world wide customer base.

Metflex says it offers customers a complete service, incorporating material development, concept planning, full project management, design, manufacture and tool trialling. The company serves a wide range of sectors including oil, gas and sub-sea applications.