We’re cleaning up with our wipes

AN Oldham manufacturer is bucking the economic downturn by reporting soaring sales.

IPS Converters has seen demand for its industrial wipes go up by 60 per cent in the last year and has invested in a new machine to cope with demand.

Designed and built by the company’s in-house engineering team, the new machine sees IPS follow in a proud manufacturing tradition, based as it is on the original site of textile machinery maker Platts in Featherstall Road South.

Sales director Ian Davies said: “The Hizorb industrial wiping range has been a tremendous success since its introduction two years ago. Turnover has increased by more than 60 per cent in the last 12 months making this the fastest growing sector in the company.

“The new machine will give us significant additional capacity and our engineers have been able to integrate new features, which will increase production process flexibility and significantly reduce changeover times between different products.

“This new addition to our converting capacity underlines the commitment of IPS Converters to strengthening our position in the industrial wipes market and we are already in the early build stages for the next machine, which will be introduced early next year.”

The new equipment was officially started up by Professor Chris Carr, departmental head of paper and textiles at Manchester University.