Leading fashion labelling and packaging manufacturer HH Calmon & Co has announced a £3 million investment in new technology as it continues to grow its UK market share.

Keighley-based Calmon, creative designer and manufacturer of woven and printed labels for top fashion and retail names like Paul Smith, Jaegar and Harrods, is investing in state of the art air-jet weaving looms from Switzerland.

The new equipment will double the speed of production and increase overall capacity.

Calmon UK has also invested in the latest design and communications technology, to allow its creative design team to work closely with design and retail customers, transmitting complex design solutions worldwide.

Its production operation is able to offer a bespoke service to customers, utilising ultrasonic or laser label-cutting equipment and specialist printing onto virtually any material.

Calmon Group chief executive Phil Gordon says: "Increasing customer demand and our own continued drive for best quality has led to this latest investment.

"We are targeting growth of more than 30 per cent in the UK over the next three years."

The Keighley plant produces more than six million woven labels and four million litho-printed labels a week, supplying to manufacturers and retailers throughout the country for fashion, sports, outdoor wear and leisure clothing and goods.

Calmon, which was bought by the Swedish Nilorn Group in February last year, has manufacturing and distribution operations in the USA, Portugal, Hong Kong, India and the Dominican Republic.

With a turnover of £10 million in the UK and £25 million worldwide, the Calmon Group has bucked the trend in the industry to enjoy a growth of 19 per cent last year. It is the largest supplier of woven labels, printed labels, swing tickets and packaging to garment manufacturers worldwide.

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