Member Article

Local manufacturer celebrates expansion

A local manufacturing plant has successfully expanded into new premises, thanks to backing from Yorkshire Bank.

Walker Filtration have moved into a new 12,000 sq m premises in Washington to help accommodate its ambitions for growth.

The family run firm was set up almost 30 year ago, and A local manufacturing plant has successfully expanded into new premises, thanks to backing from Yorkshire Bank.

Walker Filtration have moved into a new 12,000 sq m premises in Washington to help accommodate its ambitions for growth.

The family run firm was set up almost 30 year ago, and specialises in filtration equipment for compressed air, gas, vacuum pump and medical applications.

The business currently exports 88% of its products to Europe and the US, and now hopes to improve its production facility through the expansion.

They also plan to upgrade their design and development facilities, better integrate their supply chain, and improve their stock facility.

Lianne Walker MBE, director and group general manager, who took over day-to-day
running of the business from her father in 2005, says: “We are delighted to have completed our relocation which represents a significant investment and re-enforces our commitment to sustain technical excellence, exceptional product quality and outstanding service as we continue to grow.

“We are pleased that Yorkshire Bank’s Newcastle Financial Solutions Centre recognised
the strength and potential of our business and had no hesitation in supporting us at a
time when bank funding is still generally hard to come by.”

The company have already expanded its North East workforce by 30% to 198 in the last 3 years.

Simon Lenney, managing partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Newcastle FSC says: “Yorkshire Bank is committed to increasing its market share of business, and has the money available to support enterprises with the right proposition.

“We are delighted to have helped Walker Filtration, a world-class manufacturer, with its re-location through our Investing for Growth initiative”. in filtration equipment for compressed air, gas, vacuum pump and medical applications.

The business currently exports 88% of its products to Europe and the US, and now hopes to improve its production facility through the expansion.

They also plan to upgrade their design and development facilities, better integrate their supply chain, and improve their stock facility.

Lianne Walker MBE, director and group general manager, who took over day-to-day
running of the business from her father in 2005, says: “We are delighted to have completed our relocation which represents a significant investment and re-enforces our commitment to sustain technical excellence, exceptional product quality and outstanding service as we continue to grow.

“We are pleased that Yorkshire Bank’s Newcastle Financial Solutions Centre recognised the strength and potential of our business and had no hesitation in supporting us at a time when bank funding is still generally hard to come by.”

The company have already expanded its North East workforce by 30% to 198 in the last 3 years.

Simon Lenney, managing partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Newcastle FSC says: “Yorkshire Bank is committed to increasing its market share of business, and has the money available to support enterprises with the right proposition.

“We are delighted to have helped Walker Filtration, a world-class manufacturer, with its re-location through our Investing for Growth initiative”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .