Video: Luton firm’s workforce praised by government minister... and the boss

High tech pump maker Hayward Tyler, in Kimpton Road, is putting in place an £800,000 modernisation programme, including the first significant spending on machinery in something like 20 years.

Lord Green, a minister of state for trade and investment, during a 45 minute tour this afternoon (Wednesday), said: “Britain needs companies like Hayward Tyler.” He praised the company, which employs 170 people in Luton and another 130 across sites in the USA, China, Scotland and India, for its strong position in international markets. He told lutontoday that the firm is “showing the way”.

This week is Export Week and Lord Green, speaking to a shopfloor gathering, said Hayward Tyler is “one impressive company” not least for exporting more than 80 per cent of its output for power stations and oil and gas rigs around the world.

Ewan Lloyd-Baker, Hayward Tyler’s chief executive, said to a gathering of the workforce: “I would like to thank each and every one of you for being part of the team making the changes we see today.” He sees the visit as being the opening of a new chapter in the history and “continuing evolution” of Hayward Tyler and a way to thank the workforce.

Hayward Tyler has been through a rough patch and its manufacturing section in Luton has been losing money. However, it has seen a record first three months of the year, bringing in £15million of new business and is increasingly confident of being around not only for its 200th anniversary in 2015 but for a lot longer.