Chancellor George Osborne has visited a thriving Chorley manufacturer to celebrate its success and hear about its exciting plans to grow and create jobs.
George Osborne visited wax manufacturer Kerax LTD with prospective Conservative MP for Chorley, Rob Loughenbury, to hear first-hand how the firm has grown its international manufacturing and exporting business.
Current Managing Director, Ian Appleton, purchased Kerax after it was threatened with closure in 2006. Since buying the business, Mr Appleton has significantly grown its client base and doubled the number of jobs at the factory on Cowling Road in Chorley. Kerax creates high-specification waxes that are used in a range of products, from all-weather racing tracks to packaging for biscuits and bread. Chorley is firmly plugged into the global economy via Kerax, a company with international reach that supplies clients from China to Saudi Arabia.
George Osborne, speaking to the Chorley Guardian, said “It’s thanks to the hard work of firms like Kerax and their staff that the British economy is recovering.
“From struggling to survive it has become a manufacturing success, providing jobs and security for the people of Chorley as well as selling British goods around the world.
“It’s really important that jobs are being created in places like Chorley.”
Rob said:
“It’s great to see a Chorley business providing a quality product to high profile clients in the UK and across the world. The range of applications for Kerax wax is mind-boggling and you will doubtless find Kerax products in your own home. This is a growing business with a fantastic story and a bright future.”
Kerax was threatened with closure under the last Labour government, but the company was given back a bright future when Mr Appleton bought the business, protecting local manufacturing jobs and creating many more in the years to come.