Blairs Windows to expand with introduction and manufacture of PVCu products

Blairs Windows is to introduce a new PVCu window production line which will improve the company’s competitiveness and supplement the existing range of timber windows and doors.

The investment marks the latest step in the transformation of the historic brand, founded in 1913, since it was rescued by Sandy and James Easdale in 2011.

Its wooden frame window business has achieved contract wins for Victorian buildings in the Olympic Park in London and high-profile tenders including windows for the Black Watch museum at Balhousie Castle in Perth, the Anchor Line building in Glasgow’s St Vincent Street, Dunlop House in East Ayrshire and the legislative building in Ontario, Canada.

In the coming months, the Greenock factory will be transformed to make way for the introduction of specialised, state of the art, automated machinery and systems. The new jobs and production growth will enable Blairs Windows Ltd to meet the anticipated strong demand for their ever-increasing product range. The new employees will take Blairs’ staff number to more than 80.

Managing director, Alex Gray, said: “This investment demonstrates that we are highly committed to making Blairs Windows Limited the most competitive, sustainable and innovative window and door manufacturer in Scotland.

“It is a historic brand whose name is renowned for quality and it’s important that we keep evolving to ensure we are providing the very best service to our customers. This is a real sign of confidence in our product, our suppliers and most importantly, our employees.”

New timber window products have also been earmarked for launch early in 2019.

This development follows the formation of the Saveheat Group in 2017 which includes Blairs Windows, Blairs Aluminium, Merlin Network and Saveheat Glass. The group has gone from strength to strength in the past year generating a turnover of over £16m, and it is intended that this new investment will further enhance the group’s growth, taking it up to £20m in the next two years.

The outlay is the latest investment from Sandy and James Easdale in Inverclyde, following the recent purchases of Cappielow Trade Park and the former Misco warehouse in deals totalling almost £5m.

Sandy Easdale said: “We’ve been delighted with the progress Blairs has made over these past seven years. We have real faith in the Blairs workforce and this investment will allow further development in the company and the markets we can cultivate. As we said around the time of our recent property purchases, we are intent on investing heavily in our businesses and in Inverclyde and this is more evidence of that commitment.”