Baxi the central heating boilermaking company who began life in Bamber Bridge over 150 years ago have merged with a Dutch company. The company is now based in Derby and owns the names of many of Britains best known central heating companies, like Potterton, Main and Valor as well as some overseas. It is now the 3rd largest boilermaker in Europe after two German companies.
It’s good to see some manufacturing still in the UK although I noted that they have just opened a lower cost factory in Turkey. Also that their biggest shareholders are Private Equity companies.
Some of North Ends best years not long ago were when Baxi was the name on their shirts.
Note: I since read in the LEP that Baxi still employ 600 in Bamber Bridge. If so that’s good news although last time I drove round there it seemed to be an estate of apartments where I recalled the office, factory and the famous Baxi duck pond on the bend.