Louvolite’s attitude to investment is “that it is just that, and not a cost.” Here the company explains how investment in equipment and site has seen its coatings facility develop over the years

“For those of you not familiar with fabric coating techniques and facilities, the Louvolite fabrics division will appear like any other organised, efficient manufacturing plant.

Individuals going about their business in a methodical and knowledgeable manner, plant and equipment silently producing kilometre after kilometre of finished or part finished fabric, and printing, laminating and pleating processes all playing their part to contribute to this quite unique facility in North West England.

However, for those of you accustomed to the hustle and bustle of some coating plants with liquor containers everywhere and physical evidence on the days fabric colours visible in all areas of the plant – including the floor – the Louvolite fabric division would be viewed as a veritable cathedral of calm and order, with space-a-plenty and evidence of significant and ongoing investment on open view.

How it used to be
Of course it wasn’t always like this – in the beginning of Louvolite’s life as a potential coater any equipment purchased would be sourced at best second hand, more typically it would be third of fourth hand.

Louvolite’s founder Reg Allsopp and his team (1) of engineers would then go about the task of turning the various pieces of old textile finishing equipment and transforming them into an integrated unit that would apply the necessary liquors to base fabrics and help turn them into textiles for blinds. Initial trials were not only costly in terms of the time taken to produce the product but also in the volume of base fabric that would be used to run the trial – although a pioneer attitude was evident, Louvolite was a fledgling business then and money was tight. However ingenuity and persistence triumphed over time and money restraints and Louvolite became a proficient coater of window shade textiles.

As a company that recognises “investment” as just that and not a cost; Louvolite has continuously invested in new plant and equipment to facilitate pushing the boundaries of textile appearance and performance. When the opportunity came about to purchase an additional 100,000ft2 property to house the Fabrics Division and provide the environment that would ease further development opportunities and remove manufacturing space restrictions, Louvolite did not hesitate. The entire fabric production section of the business was moved 12 kilometres away and re-sited in its current home – lovingly known as Crossley Road.

It was this move into significantly more spacious surroundings that allowed further investment in equipment and procedures that would assist in maintaining the drive forward that Louvolite seeks within its business activities. A computer controlled colour laboratory was purchased to provide batch-to-batch colour consistency that is just not achievable using the human eye, regardless of the experience of any individual.

Production waste treatment plants were designed and built to ensure Louvolite more than meets any requirements regarding “green issues” and its responsibility to its local and global neighbours.

More “experienced” equipment was replaced with state-of-the-art equipment to provide more efficient and effective pleating and printing functions and the whole site was upgraded to allow more efficient movement and storage of finished and unfinished textiles. Louvolite prides itself in pushing the barriers in textile performance and appearance. Operating four Stenters allows the company to apply a wide variety of finishing techniques to a myriad number of textile types.  Propriortory fabric coatings such as SPC (Solar Performance Coating) endow fabrics with significantly improved solar and optical performance, foam coating provides a blackout finish capable of providing full privacy and total opacity. Where delicate textiles require a gentle gossamer of coating to retain the special effects that only yarns and fibre can convey, Louvolite’s experience and patience allow it to achieve success where others cannot. It would probably not surprise you to know that Louvolite’s fabric laboratory includes equipment required to assess full solar and optical performance to internationally recognised standards, flame retardency and light fastness. Louvolite has new equipment which creates artificial climate conditions to ensure products can perform in areas of the world where the climate provides particular challenges. It even machine washes test fabric to recognised standards.     

The world has experienced massive changes over the last 30 years or so and products offered for sale within our industry reflect that; companies such as Louvolite continue the search for something new, something special, something that will support and enhance the collections of our customers to provide that something extra for the consumer. As we know some customers are never satisfied – fortunately neither is Louvolite.”

• Louvolite