West Yorkshire paper mill secures £2.5m North America contract

A paper mill based in Pool-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, has won a £2.5m contract to supply the North American market.

Part of the Swiss-owned Wicor group, Weidmann Whiteley made this announcement following on from a £275k investment to upgrade the machinery used to manufacture high quality industrial papers and board.

The investment, supported by Leeds City Council and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Service, has already led to the creation of four new jobs and recruitment of an engineering apprentice through Leeds City College.

Weidmann Whiteley is one of a handful of paper mills in the UK equipped to produce specialised paper board used as insulation in high power electrical transformers and in other industrial applications.

The mill’s heavy duty paper presses have been adapted by adding new steam processes, high pressure rollers and drying cylinders to speed up production, increase capacity and produce a more uniform end product.

The new presses are also able to produce other specialist goods, such as abrasives used in the automotive industry.

John Briggs, managing director, said: “The North America contract is great news for the business and we’re on target for £18m turnover this year. Longer term we’re aiming to develop sales in the high value and higher margin abrasives market, particularly in Germany, where there is strong demand from automotive manufacturers.”

A grant of £27.5k was awarded through the LEP’s Business Growth Programme to support the investment and help accelerate creation of new jobs.

Bill Wallace, operations director, added: “The support we’ve received from Leeds City Council and the LEP has been tremendous. We are a major employer in the local area and the grant support has enabled us to move ahead at pace with the project to create new opportunities for the business and new jobs for people in the area.”

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and chair of the LEP’s investment panel, commented: “I’m delighted we have been able to help support this investment and secure the company’s future in here Leeds.

“In these uncertain times for the UK and for the economy it’s vital that we help companies invest in developing new markets and new products, particularly for export, and in developing the skills of future generations.”

Paper has been manufactured at the site in Pool-in-Wharfedale for more than 200 years.

Pool Paper Mills, as it was then known, was acquired by the Whiteley family in 1919 and became part of the Weidmann International Corporation (Wicor Holding AG) in 1981. Wicor is a leading supplier to the worldwide electrical and medical technology sectors.

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