News » Investment Backs Future Growth Plans
Investment Backs Future Growth Plans
Wednesday 09 Dec 2009
Heavy investment in carpet backing machinery marks a new era for our 41 year old family firm, seeing us using technology to strengthen our place in the UK commercial carpet sector.
Our recently installed, revolutionary hot melt plant is the first carpet backing process of its kind in the world to back four metre wide carpet. Manufactured in Germany, the machine resolves historic issues with backing tufted carpets by bonding and laminating using a unique formulation of solvent and water base free EVA adhesive.
The new ‘Advanced Backing System’ will further boost Newhey’s production capacities, further enhancing our reputation as a specialist in producing Colortec carpets for blue chip companies in the hospitality and leisure sectors. We have embraced this new technology, which enables us to provide a more affordable final product, faster turnaround times and to back this up a comprehensive bespoke design service providing access to an extensive design archive for our client base of interior designers, architects and specifiers.
Saving both energy and manual labour resources, the new machinery dramatically reduces floor space requirements, completing the backing process in just four metres, compared to conventional backing lines which can be up to 50 metres long. When preheated, the hot melt technology allows the EVA to be applied and then pressed into the cloth allowing a durable and supportive backing to be permanently bonded to the product. Dimensional stability both in the length and width are under careful control and remove the variations of conventional machines.
Along with its application for backing carpet, our development team were keen to maximise the diversity of the plant. The equipment was also designed to coat and laminate a variety of materials, for example, carpet tiles, products requiring an impervious layer of fabric, and materials requiring water resistant lamination - essential for products used outdoors and in extreme weather conditions.
Another important issue was the need to reduce the plant’s environmental impact. This has been a hugely significant step forward for Newhey, with all machinery developed to minimise effects on the environment. The equipment has no drying chambers; consequently heat is contained within the melting equipment and re-circulated around the plant to dramatically reduce energy usage. The absence of dryers has also removed the need for waste water treatment, necessary with more conventional lines.
Currently we are enjoying an exciting period of investment and development, and as more and more British manufacturers look overseas to source products, we have been determined to maintain our position and continue to manufacture in the UK, which has been a key factor in how we move forward as quality of product and service are fundamental to the success of the company. We also ensure wherever possible that materials are sourced in the UK from local suppliers to ensure that the industry in general is supported.
Says Newhey Sales Director, Howard Whitehead: “We’ve had to move with the times and we are proud that we are keeping the traditional skills of our staff, whilst also ensuring that they are trained to use the new generation of manufacturing techniques. There will always be demand for traditional woven products, but the versatility, cost and design ability of Colortec means that inevitably, the industry will increasingly consider this type of production. We are just glad to be at the forefront of this shift.”
