One of Northern Ireland's leading textiles companies has announced that it is investing £1.3 million sterling in a new dyeing and finishing works at its factory in Castlewellan, Co Down. Ulster Weavers Apparel employs around 50 people at its Castlewellan operation in bleaching and finishing apparel fabric. This is marketed under the Ulster Weavers and Spence Bryson labels, and exported to markets worldwide. The money is being used to invest in modern laboratory facilities, and to enable dyeing and finishing work previously undertaken by external contractors to be carried out in-house.

According to Mr Ian Webb, chairman of Ulster Weavers' parent company, the John Hogg Group, this will save money, and give the company greater control over quality and delivery.

"The developments at Castlewellan are part of an ongoing investment in new production equipment and design technology aimed at increasing our overall competitiveness," Mr Webb said. "It will enable us to maximise the market potential of new fabrics such as our `easycare' linen, and new products blending linen, Tencel, and other contemporary yarns."

Ulster Weavers is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the John Hogg Group, which is based in east Belfast. A sister company, Ulster Weavers Home Fashions, makes kitchen textiles and table linens at its factory in south Belfast.

The company's apparel fabrics are sold to leading designers including Versace and Paul Costelloe, and to retail fashion houses such as Tommy Hilfiger and JC Penney. Marks and Spencer recently placed the company on its list of approved suppliers.