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(Classified)


Clitheroe 22324 (Editorial), 22323 (Advertising). Burnley 22331 (Classified) ■


CHANGE OF NAME AS- ^FIRM GROWS


A LOCAL COM­ PANY, Pressed Felts Ltd, is to change its name on November 1st to John Cotton (Colne) Limited. This change of name


caipet industries with the Advertisement feature


underlines the company’s wddening spheres of activ­ ity within the John Cotton Group. It also holds the promise of greater em­ ployment opportunities to local people through its ex p an s io n is t policies which should come to frui­ tion in the next decade.


closely associated with Colne since it was found­ ed in the eai’iy 40’s, and it is now a major employer in the area.


Pressed Felts has been


world war the company played a significant part in the war effort with its many jute needlefelt pro­ ducts which gave it its name.


over, business turned in the direction of the caipet industry, and jute needled underfelt became the most important product. Jute and natural animal hairs were sldlfully pro­ cessed into a hardwearing yet resilient underfelt which added years to the life of caipets.


When the war was SAILING


restrictions, the mus­ hrooming of new housing estates and the re-furnish- ing boom of the post-war era, the caipet industi-y flourished and Pi'essed Felts enjoyed the benefits of continued expansion.


With the end of utility During the second,


ness continues to play an important role in current and future plans. The company is a major sup­ plier to the contract carpet industry, where natural fibres ai-e strongly preferred to rubber or synthetic materials be­ cause natural fibres have a much greater wearing capacity.


This side of the busi­


skilfully processed in Colne find their way into hotels, hospitals, public service buildings and other locations throughout the world, as well as in ships of many nations sail­ ing the seven seas.


So, today, underlays


re-emergence of the Brit­ ish motor industry and with it a further oppor­ tunity for the company. It was established that the i-ange of needlefelts was ideally suited in the use of cia- seating trim and as a sound insulation for both passenger cars and com­ mercial vehicles. Soon Pressed Felts products were used extensively throughout car interiors, under caipets and in the boot area as an anti-noise, anti-rattle medium, as well as a spring support pad for car seating.


The eai-ly 50’s saw the


ated considerable de- rriands in both material and labour. It brought gi-owth to the company and further employment for local labour. The com­


This development cre­


pany became a major sup­ plier to the Austin Moms Group, Ford Motor Com­ pany and Vauxhall Motors — in fact, every manufac­ turer of note' called upon Pressed Felts for its com­ ponent requirements. Determined to stay in


acquisition of Pressed Felts Ltd. It was realised that a


y '"O v - i j ' '


considerable potential for further expansion was av­


the forefront of the latest product developments, the company, wth an eye to trends in the US, began, in the eai-ly 60’s, to invest in manufacturing plant capable of proces­ sing the new phenolic felts which were coming into fashion in the auto­ motive industry.


■were o b ta in ed from Fords, who used this pro­ duct extensively through­ out the sixties. During this period, too, it was realised that this new pro­ duct, because of its low weight characteristics, was ideal as a .sound in­ sulator, and to this day the majority of British cars have this material fitted for this pmpose.


Immediate contracts EXPANDING


Cotton (Mil-field) Ltd took financial control of the company. This well-known York­


In the early 70’s, John


shire firm, processing both natural and man­ made fibres, were ex­ panding rapidly under the direction of John Cotton. His achievements in the bedding and upholstery markets were expanded into the automotive and


ailable with the manufac­ ture of moulded trim parts and moulded insula­ tion using the same phenolic felt base material which proved to be ideally suited for this purpose. Now the newly-named


John Cotton ( Colne) Limited


John Cotton (Colne) Ltd is all set for further gi-owth and expansion into


the 80’s and beyond. The manufacturing and


marketing experience of Pressed Felts, now com­ bined with the wider re­ sources of the. John Cotton Group, have al­ ready enabled the com­ pany to become a promi­ nent supplier of moulded parts to both the pas­ senger and commercial vehicle industries. The company’s products


include headliners for Jaguar and Rover ■ cars and sound insulation and bonnet liner mouldings for the Ford Motor Co. and many other UK and Euro­ pean vehicle manufac­ turers. Further new production


processes are now jjlan- ned to ensure continued expansion in all fields of activity. Because this will involve diversifications from the original felt pro­ ducts base, the change of name from Pressed Felts Ltd to John Cotton (Colne) Ltd symbolises the exciting prospects ahead and reflects its links with the progressive John Cotton Group.


Quality will continue —director


enviable reputation,” said Mr Wilson, “and we are detei-mined to see it still further improved as we continue to diversify. In- . creased demands have


been made over the past few years by the changing


nature of our raw mate­ rials and our end-pro­ ducts, but we have met all the challenges which have arisen and solved ■successfully all the prob- ; lems that new technology


has posed.” He' was confident that the expansion w'hich had


.financial resources of the John Cotton Group,” he pointed out. Max Wilson also spoke


taken place recently, especially in the area of moulded tr im p a r ts , would continue without any drop in quality. “We now have the backing of both the technical and the


of the w-ay in which the company’s products now appeared (unknown to the great majority of the driv­ ing public) in Jaguar, Rover and many other top-quality cars.


^ quality and service. “We have built up an


MAX WILSON, Sales Director of the com­ pany now to be re-named John Cotton (Colne) Ltd, spoke of his plans to maintain and improve the company’s reputation for


similar .use of oui- pro­ ducts on the more high- volume m a s s -m ark et models,” he explained. “The enhanced visual ap­ pearance, ■ the increased effectiveness and the gi’e- ater ease of installation during assembly make this almost inevitable.”


“We now expect to see CONTRACTS


ses with the Austin Rover Ambassador cai% where a close inspection would highlight the wide diver­ sification of parts now manufactured by the com­ pany. The headliner, lug­ gage liner and rear parcel tray, as well as consider­ able sound insulation pad­ ding, are all manufactured at Colne. Each of these products requires differ­ ing characteristics, but they are manufactured from the same basic material, thanks to the in­ genuity and expertise of the John Cotton craft­ smen.


He cited recent succes­


also recently been ob­ tained for fitting moulded


Major contracts have ■K ^'4:^


HINGING the moulded rear parcel tray for the Austin Ambassador. In the picture are Justin Empson, production manager and Irene Martindale, supervisor, mould­ ing department


trim into the complete Land Rover range of veh­ icles, where it not only enhances the visual ap­ pearance but considerably reduces Interior noise levels. Max Wilson was also


ty and price of our pro­ ducts, and we have just completed negotiations on


a contract to fit out a major international hotel


in Cairo,” he said. He also spoke of inter­


happy to emphasise that the manufacture of carpet underlay still plays a sig­ nificant part in his expan­ sionist plans for the com­ pany. “Recent contracts in this field have included some very well-known names such as the inter­ national Trust House Forte Group and many similar organisations who appreciate both the quali­


' automotive in d u s try , where load-bearing space mats are now called for in floor furnishings on hatch­ back vehicles. “There are many excit­


esting developments in similar manufacturing processes related to the


Major suppliers of felt T underlay to the


HAPPY smiles from girls in the cutting department


Job hopes should be better


IN THESE days of increasing insecurity of employment, the employees of Pressed Felts Ltd, now chang­ ing its name to John Cotton (Colne) Ltd, were happy to learn that the change of name will reflect a policy of expansion ■..............the


workforce have’ long ser­ vice records with the com­ pany of \vhich they are naturally proud. The com­ pany, too, appreciates the benefits that result from many years experience on the part of their em­ ployees. Traditional skills are


within both the com­ pany and the gi-oup. Many of their present


blended with the latest developments in technolo­ gy so that the company’s customers enjoy the ad­ vantages of both. The wastage of hard


earned skills acquired over many years experi­ ence is one of the saddest aspects of the unemploy­ ment situation, and it is therefore particularly wel­ come news to the district to hear that employment opportunities are likely to increase rather than di­ minish as a result of the developments at Spring Gardens Mill, which have culminated in the present change of name to John Cotton (Colne) Ltd.


The development of natural hair needlefelts and phenolic bonded underfelts for the furnishing industries has made an


important contribution to the success of .John Cotton (Colne) Limited.


expanding role in their future activities in this field. It will continue to play a significant and


John Cotton (Colne) Ltd., Spring Gardens Mill, Colne, Lancs., BBS 8EL. Tel: Colne (0282) 863550 Telex: 63210


rust House Forte Group


Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, October 28th, 1982 9


‘ to make the most of them.”


■MANAGEMENT TEAMr-’. m


NEWTOWN NORLEY


OLD ROAD


ORRELL ORRELLROAD PARBOLD


PEMBERTON PEPPER LANE


PIM80 LANE PLANK LANE. LEIGH PLATT BRIDGE RAILWAY ROAD. LEIGH


• ROBY MILL


l)AD ST HELENS ROAD. LEIGH SANDY LANE. SKELM


SCHOLES SCOWCROFT STREET


SHEVINGTON SHEVINGTON MOOR SKELMERSOALE


SPRING VIEW


STANOISH STANDISH LOWER


GROUND STUBSHAW CROSS


TANKOUSE THE CENTRE. LEIGH THE WINSTERS. SKELM


UPHOLLAND WARRINGTON ROAD.


LEIGH WESTLEIGH. LEIGH


WHELLEY WIGAN LANE WIGAN ROAD. LEIGH


WINSTANLEY WOOOHOUSELANE


WORSLEYHALL WORTHINGTON WRIGHTINGTON


hK AL 1st office THE new management team at John


Cotton (Colne) Ltd is able to offer a balanced blend of skills and experience in all the areas in which the company is


now operating or plans to expand. The team’s knowledge of the carpet, furnish­


ing and automotive industries results from many years experience gained both inside and


.°“Heade*d%^°Managing Director Tony King who recently joined the company after a wide experience of general and production manage-


ment associated with the automotive industry, the management team is now poised to leap ahead, consolidating all their recent gains, and with ambitious plans for the future backed by the considerable resources, both technical and financial, of the John Cotton Group. In the picture, from left to right, are, seated:


ing possibilities ahead,’" he concluded, “and John Cotton (Colne) Ltd means


achieve silence with stv^e Ford John Cotton (Colne) Limited


continue their close association with the Ford Motor Company as a supplier of components on the new Sierra model.


Graham Creswick, financial director; Mr King; Raymond Grimshaw, engineering director; standing: Roger Chawner, technical manager; Max Wilson, sales director; Andrew Simpson, production manager; Ian Ramsey, quality con­ trol manager.


John Cotton (Colne) Limited


Spring Gardens Mill, Colne, Lancs., BBS 8EL. Tel: Colne (0282) 863550 Telex: 63210 -1


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