The Airedale Chemical Company, which is based in Cross Hills, West Yorkshire, has secured a five-year distribution agreement with The Chengxing Group, the largest manufacturer of phosphoric acid and phosphate products in Asia.

Airedale, which employs 42 staff, has also gained a multi-million pound banking facility from The Royal Bank of Scotland to support its expansion plans.

Founded in 1973 by Brian Chadwick, Airedale is a global manufacturer of dyes and performance chemicals.

It began as a supplier of dyestuffs and related products for the textile industry. As the Yorkshire textile industry declined, it looked for partners overseas to help it grow.

Earlier this year the company opened its first office in China, which has enabled the company to source dyestuffs, chemicals and raw materials as well as providing a selling platform into Asia. The company also operates an office in France, which manages the European side of the business.

With a liquid bulk storage facility in Immingham, Airedale can take 4,000 tonne bulk shipments from China. The company has also broken into the utilities market. It has signed long-term contracts with several major water utility companies for the supply of water treatment chemicals.

Airedale is a family owned business with Brian Chadwick acting as chairman and his sons Richard, John and David taking on the roles of managing director, administrator director and European sales executive respectively.

Richard Chadwick said: "The company has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and in order to build on this success and meet our future growth aspirations, it is essential to have the necessary funding in place and we are delighted this has now been arranged. We believe the market for our dyestuffs and performance chemical products will continue to expand.

"We've got a young team and we are willing to look at everything. As time goes by we want to diversify more. That's the secret. You can't stand still. You've got to look for opportunities."

Mr Chadwick hoped the new banking facility could lead to the creation of around five jobs over the next year.

The company's premises include laboratories and it also has a team of technologists. In the last few years, millions of pounds have been spent on plant and equipment and the company has also invested in its own fleet of distribution vehicles.

Next year, the company's annual turnover is expected to rise from more than £20m to around £30m.

Mr Chadwick added: "In the next five years, I would like to take us to £50m turnover."

Funding was provided though Steve Ward of RBS Commercial Banking and John Moors of RBS Invoice Finance in Bradford.

Mr Ward said: "This is a glowing example of what can be achieved by local people in business in the local area. The company has come a long way in recent years and has constantly evolved in response to the changing marketplace."


Company that is bringing some cheer


The planned expansion of the Airedale Chemical Company from Cross Hills will come as welcome news for the Aire Valley in West Yorkshire, which is also the home of the headquarters of stricken bank Bradford & Bingley.

Airedale Chemical's products are used every day in our homes, at work or while we relax. They are used in the textiles, pharmaceutical, water treatment and the aluminium industry.

The deal with the Chengxing Group reflects the growing global importance of the Chinese market for chemical companies who are looking to expand into new markets.

Recently, Yorkshire businesses were urged to use a cultural week involving the Zhejiang province as a way of building economic links with China.

The Yorkshire and Zhejiang Culture and Tourism Week was hosted at Leeds Town Hall by Zhong Shan, the vice governor of Zhejiang province, and Yorkshire Forward chairman Terry Hodgkinson.