Langholm dyers maintain Muckle Toon’s proud textiles history
A Langholm specialist yarn dyer is helping keep alive the town’s textile industry, with our support.
Textiles and Langholm are closely interwoven, with their dozens of mills helping earn the town the nickname the ‘Muckle Toon’.
The town’s industry has changed and reduced in number to just two companies, but FTS Dyers is one of them which is proudly helping keep the tradition going.
FTS Dyers
Founded in 1947 as Langholm Dyers, the company originally served 20 woollen mills all within the town boundary.
Having changed their name to FTS Dyers in 2008, they dye yarn before its woven into cloth and service a wide range of customers - fashion brands, aviation companies, knitting customers and carpet manufacturers – across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
While the textile industry is not what it was in Langholm, FTS Dyers remain one of the biggest employers in the town with over 20 members of staff based at their Waterside Mill premises.
That is also why we decided to support the proposals of FTS to help modernise aspects of their operations and continue to compete in the industry.
Support received
- Support has included expert advice on exporting, and work with a consultant to look at what investment FTS Dyers can make to reduce their carbon output and help them move towards Net Zero.
- Financial support included a £43,070 grant in 2022/2023 for two new pieces of equipment - one which replaced a 50-year-old soft winding machine and the second a new assembly winding machine which has increased capacity by more than three times.
- A second SOSE grant of £22,483 followed in 2023/24, helping FTS to purchase new controllers and a chemical dispenser to allow more accurate control of their dyeing processes.
James Blackburn, Commercial Manager at FTS Dyers, said:
“The support received from SOSE has helped us save energy, increase capacity and automate certain processes, which is essential for keeping us up to speed in the industry.
“We really want to secure the future of the business and be here for the next 50 years by maintaining the customers that we have got, growing the customer base and diversifying into new products.”
Lynne Campbell, SOSE Business Development Specialist, added:
“Textiles is such a historically important sector for Langholm, and the South of Scotland as a whole, which is why we felt it was important we provided assistance to FTS Dyers.
“The team at FTS in Langholm are committed and proud of their history, and we look forward to seeing them prosper into the future.”