Upper Hutt Leader

Fire-hit Acma Industries goes into administra­tion

- CHLOE WINTER

Upper Hutt manufactur­er Acma Industries has gone into voluntary administra­tion.

Acma is a polyuretha­ne component manufactur­er, which specialise­s in fire-retardant foams and carpet underlay, employs about 40 people.

John Fisk and Richard Longman, of PWC, were appointed administra­tors on Wednesday.

The company will continue to trade while Fisk and Longman assess the business to see if it can be saved.

Fisk said Acma Industries’ director made the ‘‘difficult decision’’ to put the company into voluntary administra­tion as a result of cashflow pressure.

‘‘The company has been in a loss-making position for some time, and a restructur­ing of the operations of the company is required to return the company to profitabil­ity.

‘‘The cashflow pressures on the company were compounded following a fire at the company premises in January.’’

The large fire engulfed the Acma Industries carpet underlay factory.

At the time of the fire, Acma Industries chief executive John Bowmar said the factory, which he did not own, would probably have to be rebuilt completely.

The building, in Montgomery Cres, was Bowmar’s father’s last project before he died on New Year’s Day.

Alan Bowmar was described as one of Upper Hutt’s most loyal, successful, and respected businessme­n.

He started the business with partners George Peters and Eric Evans in 1978, and John Bowmar joined the business in 1995.

Acma was the first Upper Hutt company to be inducted into the Wellington Region Business Hall of Fame in 2015.

 ?? BLAKE CRAYTONBRO­WN/STUFF ?? Acma Industries chief executive John Bowmar had sais the factory would have to be rebuilt.
BLAKE CRAYTONBRO­WN/STUFF Acma Industries chief executive John Bowmar had sais the factory would have to be rebuilt.

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