Published: Saturday, 10th May, 2008 17:55
Port firm's job boost hopes
By Eric Baxter
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HIVE OF INDUSTRY: The factory floor at Promedics.
Pic by: George Munro
ONE of Britain’s top medical supply companies hopes to create jobs in Port Glasgow.
Promedics Orthopaedics Ltd is based in the town’s industrial estate, where it makes products for hospitals all over Britain and exports to 30 countries, including the United States, Sweden and Holland.
Encouraged by the Scottish Government, Blackburn-based Promedics expanded to the Port four years ago to take on 122 redundant Playtex workers.
Now, that company has been split into two in a management buyout — with the orthopaedics division becoming a separate entity in Port Glasgow and 18 head office people moving there from Blackburn.
More than 5,000 orthopaedic items are made in Port Glasgow, and other mobility products, such as zimmers, in Blackburn.
The buy-out was led by finance director David Baxendale and funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). Mr Baxendale is now managing director in Port Glasgow, and his partners are commercial director Andrew Padmore and operations director Ian McCormick.
Mr Baxendale said today: “We are the UK’s market leader, with products ranging from hand and leg braces to fracture management and spinal support products.
“We can take orders from the south of England up to 5pm and have them delivered by van first thing next morning. It is a very competitive business, but we are the only ones actually making all our products in Britain rather than sourcing from abroad.
“We are absolutely delighted with the quality of our workforce and we hope to take on more people, although we can’t say when at the moment. We believe we can grow turnover and increase our market share.”
Paul Thomas, associate director at RBS, said: “David and his fellow directors form a strong management team, and they all have considerable knowledge. I expect the company to perform strongly.”
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