The world’s most advanced powder defoamer chemical plant has opened in Blackburn.
Blackburn Chemicals Limited, a specialty chemicals company producing foam control solutions for a wide range of industries, is behind the new facility.
The state-of-the-art premises – a £14m self-funded investment – is a welcome jobs boost for the local economy, but will also benefit the wider UK manufacturing sector, with the expansion expected to create a six-fold increase in production capabilities.
Blackburn Chemicals currently employs 90 people, with sales teams spread around Europe and Asia. The expansion means the business will be able to further support local employment while upskilling existing staff.
At full capacity, output of the new solar-powered facility – its 545 solar panels will generate ≈400,000 kWh per year – is expected to increase from 2,000 tonnes to 7,000 tonnes per year.
Additionally, a new fully automated system utilising the work of on-site chemists means the business will be able to get products from the lab to market in shorter timescales.
The Blackburn-based family-run business, which has been operating for more than 50 years, was started by George Lamb in 1972.
It has since become a major supplier to several key industries, including paper manufacturing – it supplies two of the largest paper mills in Europe; pulp processing – it is the third largest UK chemical exporter to Brazil for the pulp market; food production; surface coatings; construction chemicals and more. Over 80% of the company’s business is overseas.
Managing director John Covill said: “We are a unique business, in that a lot of industries need our product. The expansion will enable us to significantly increase our output, serve our UK and global customers more efficiently, and respond faster to industry demands – all while being firmly rooted in Blackburn.”
He added: “I am incredibly proud to be a part of this level of investment and innovation. The expansion is not just about production capacity, it is about futureproofing our operations, supporting the local as well as national economy, and maintaining our position as a global leader in high-performance foam control solutions.”
