Padiham goes warm edge as growth continues: Padiham Glass continues to invest in expansion programme

Celebrating its 26th anniversary this year, Padiham has seen a lot of changes in the industry over the years, not least in the emphasis of its own activities. While toughening was once the bread and butter of the business, in the current financial climate, the more strings you have to your bow – the better. For this reason, the company have looked to diversify their interests and enhance the products and services that they offer.

Cutting edge

Padiham’s intention now is to have the most up-to-date machinery available to ensure that whether it’s sealed units, decorative glass, toughening or processing: it is fully equipped to handle the needs of its customers.

The company boast one of the largest Cooltemper Jetstream toughening furnaces in the UK with a capability of toughening over 1,000 square metres in an eight-hour shift.

The machine can toughen all types of glass including Pilkington Activ and all soft coat Low E varieties.

Having bought the furnace back in 2004, they are extremely satisfied with it. ‘It has never given us any problems, it has to be one of the best machines we’ve ever bought’, comments MD Steve Clarkson.

Bottero machinery

Much of the other machinery on the factory floor is Bottero as the Padiham team have built up an excellent working relationship with Phil Beddows at Bottero’s UK office in Rochdale.

‘Not only are Bottero machines very reliable, but the level of service they offer is excellent and another advantage for us is that they are just down the road’, Steve continues.

Padiham is in the process of adding to its existing 25,000 sq. ft operation by another 10,000 ft in order to accommodate their latest machinery purchase.

In October, they expect to take delivery of their fully automated For.El Super Spacer application line after the Vitrum show in Milan. Steve explains, ‘We looked at Edgetech’s Super Spacer a few years ago, but we held back because the fully automated machinery required to produce our volumes wasn’t available.

‘We chose For.El from Promac, one of several options for full automation for the application of Super Spacer now available.

‘We were impressed when we first saw the machine and being a premium company we need quality suppliers to maintain our reputation. Promac fits the bill perfectly. Always happy to help, they’ve given us lots of professional guidance including on site visits and drawings of the layout so we can plan ahead’.

Warm edge

Sales Manager Anthony Clarkson is another warm edge convert, ‘As well as supplying the best product and service, it’s our role to be on the look out for innovations that give our products the competitive edge. Super Spacer does just this. With Part L and the whole focus of Building Regulations being on improving standards over the next 10 years or so, we need products that are regulation proof’.

Padiham is also branding its sealed units as Operations Director Jeremy Kemp explains, ‘We want people to know that if they buy Padiham, they will buy quality products’.

With another million pounds being invested in the latest improvements, it seems Padiham will continue to grow as one of the key players in the processing and IG unit manufacturers’ market in the North West.