CONTRACT furniture maker Knightsbridge is set for expansion after being bought by two of its directors for an undisclosed sum.

The Bradford-based £10 million turnover business, based at a 250,000 sq ft factory on Thornton Road, has been acquired by managing director Alan Towns and operations director Peter Denham, who have been at the firm for nine and seven years respectively.

Alan said: "This is a hugely exciting time, both for the company as a whole and for me personally. Peter and I are looking forward to exploring new directions and new markets whilst consolidating our current position as one of the UK’s foremost designers and in-house manufacturers of contract furniture.”

Knightsbridge Furniture has been producing seating, tables and cabinets for the contract market for around 80 years and has specialist divisions designing and producing furniture for the healthcare, residential care, hospitality and corporate sectors.

It uses both traditional craftsmanship and advanced manufacturing technology and holds Preferred Supplier status with organisations including the NHS and HSE Ireland.

Alan Towns said that while Knightsbridge products made for major customers such as US office furniture supplier Herman Miller were sold to countries including South America and the Middle East, a priority would be to double direct exports from the current seven per cent of turnover in the next 12 months.

Knightsbridge, which employs 127 people - including several third or fourth generation family members - will look to add more staff as it expands into new areas of business.

It is seeing rising demand for a new renovation operation, which repairs and upgrades all makes of contract furniture to help companies save money and improve sustainability.

Mr Towns also wants to break into the corporate furniture market , initially targeting financial services businesses and then other large corporates.

In the mental health sector, Knightsbridge has worked with the Bradford Dementia Group and Dr Paul Edwards at the University of Bradford to develop a range of items for use by dementia sufferers and designed in-house by Caroline Hawcroft.

Alan said the company had room to expand on its present four-acre site.

He said: “ We have a highly skilled workforce with many long-serving staff and Bradford is a fantastic location form which to operate. We are looking forward to building on past achievements and taking Knightsbridge forward into new areas of operation and growing the business.”

Knightsbridge was started by the late Dr Arnold Moore in Leeds Road. Dr Moore was well-known for founding the War on Cancer appeal.