New production line will add more capacity and safeguard jobs

Oldham-based Hill’s Panel Products (HPP) has unveiled a £3m production line to expand the manufacture of vinyl-wrapped doors.

The second production line will serve UK and Irish customers.

HPP manufactures its own-brand products including Avanti doors, Glide sliding doors, and Aspect and Aspire kitchens and bedrooms. It also supplies products by other UK and European brands.

It currently offers 6,000 products which cover full and processed MFC (melamine faced chipboard) sheet material, vinyl-wrapped furniture doors and associated furniture fittings.

The new production line enables HPP to increase output of its bespoke vinyl-wrapped doors from 30,000 to 45,000 units per month in the short term.

In the longer term, it can increase manufacturing to 50,000 per month, or more.

Oldham West MP Jim McMahon and Cllr Sean Fielding, leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, took part in an official opening ceremony.

HPP managing director, Keith Wardrope, said: “It’s great to see people of such high-calibre and enthusiasm as Jim McMahon and Sean Fielding taking time out of their busy schedules to visit HPP. We all share a desire to support manufacturing and economic development, quality careers and skills.

“This new production line shows the continuing importance of the company’s agenda of moving forward through automation while also securing jobs for people.

“Automation can be seen as a double-edged sword, if it leads to job losses.