Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 09
“It’ll be a proud achievement,
to bring washing machine
production back to the area, and
something we’re all absolutely
determined to see through.
”
UK market, but the dramatic change in the
Euro exchange rate meant it was no longer
a viable business option.
It will not only bring production of the
essential household appliance back to the
UK, but it will also bring it back to Aycliffe.
“We developed the idea, looking at how
we can produce the parts ourselves, and
applied for Region Growth Fund One but
missed out, which left us pretty cheesed
off to say the least.
Colstons, now known as Gestamp Tallent,
were producing “top-loader” machines for
infamous businessman John Bloom back
in the 1960s, before his company went
bust. Tallents lost £866,000, but survived,
then bloomed.
“But then we went back a second time,
maybe a bit more determined, and got it.
It’s the catalyst for the whole project as
the board wouldn’t have given it the goahead without this initial funding.
“But the real work starts now, getting the
other funding in place. We’ve already hired
specialist staff to look at the design and
manufacture of the washing machines,
there’s a long way to go, but I’m project
managing it myself now full-time, and I’ve
got the bit between my teeth.
”
Ebac have brought in a senior designer
and engineer to start work on the models.
Eventually, two new production lines will
be built – one to produce the washing
machine cabinets and one to produce the
inner drums – and eventually, in 18-months
to two years, they’ll be rolling off the
production line.
Pamela adds: “It does bring it full circle,
and although that wasn’t the underlying
motivation, it is historic.
“It’ll be a proud achievement, to bring
washing machine production back to the
area, and something we’re all absolutely
determined to see through.
”
When Pamela says the real work starts
here, though, she’s not lying. The wheels
are in motion – the drums are starting
to roll, so to speak – but there’s the
small matter of £6m to see to first. It’s
cool, though. Ebac is in a strong enough
position to deal with it.
“But it’s a huge deal. And for ‘little old
Ebac’ it’s fantastic, it’s going to double us.
“And putting my UK hat on, this sends a
message out that we can compete. We’ve
got to add value as manufacturers, but we
can compete in the global economy.
“For Aycliffe itself, it’s also
significant. It’s going to create
200 jobs locally. If we can get
more of the assembly and
manufacturing done in the UK,
we can start to bring some of
the supply businesses back to
the UK, so it’s huge for Aycliffe
Business Park.
”
A Video Interview with Pamela is in the
Video Vault of our parent company’s
website, www.aycliffetoday.co.uk
“A lot of it should come from capital asset
finance, says Pamela. “Banks still have
”
quite an appetite to lend against physical
things, something that actually has some
value, and we’ll be digging deep into our
reserves and profits, and probably some of
the bank loan as well.
OPPOSITE LEFT: Ebac’s production line is expected to increase with the arrival of household appliances
OPPOSITE RIGHT: Pamela Petty, Ebac Managing Director
ABOVE LEFT: Pamela Petty chats to a newly-appointed design engineer tasked specifically to design Ebac’s new washing machines
ABOVE RIGHT: Ebac’s design engineers have already started work on the new washing machines the company hope to start churning out in two years