The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Don & Low in multi-million grassyarn investment
MANUFACTURING: Technical textiles group introduces new product line at Angus factory
Technical textiles manufacturer Don & Low has completed a multi-millionpound investment in a new artificial grass production line at its Forfar base.
The company – part of Thrace Group, the Greece-based industrial solutions conglomerate – signed off on the investment last year and production of the new synthetic grass yarn started at the firm’s Angus site this week.
Don & Low is aiming to manufacture 3,500 tonnes of grass yarn in the first full year of production.
If the new range proves successful, the company said there was the prospect of a further round of investment and expansion in 2019/2020.
Mark Newstead, who took over as managing director of Don & Low Limited in April, said the commencement of grass yarn production was a significant moment for the business.
“As a result of this new venture, Don & Low has now become the only independent grass yarn manufacturer in the UK and is one of the few remaining independent grass yarn manufacturers globally,” Mr Newstead said.
“This will allow us to work with many different customers and business partners, while maintaining the quality and excellence of our products.”
The company – one of Forfar’s largest private sector employers – has been a stalwart of the local economy for more than 200 years.
It said it had applied the knowledge and expertise built up over that time in to developing the new grass product.
It added that the new range took synthetic grass technology to the “next level” with “enhanced yarn characteristics”.
The new line will officially launch to market in October at FSB in Cologne, Germany, a major international trade fair aimed at the amenity areas, sports and pool facilities markets.
Jacki Stephen, Don & Low product development technologist, said the group’s investment had brought stateof-the-art technology to the Angus site.
She said: “Working collaboratively with our raw materials and machine partners, as well as multiple years of extrusion and manufacturing experience, has meant we have some very exciting grass developments to bring to the demanding and performance-driven artificial grass market.”
Don & Low was founded in 1792 and became part of Thrace Group in 1999.
The modern business at Forfar produces both woven and non-woven technical textiles for use in a range of industries.
They include carpet backings, consumer products, construction and geosynthetic textiles and others used in medical, filtration and horticultural applications.