A LONG-established textile company in Bury has shed 18 jobs as part of a merger to maintain manufacturing at its factory in Walshaw Road.

Andrew Textile Industries has amalgamated with Rawtenstall-based Webron Marling Ltd to create a single business trading under the Andrew Webron Ltd banner.

Both firms are owned by the same parent company, Andrew Industries Ltd, which has its headquarters near Accrington. The business is involved in the filtration and industrial textiles markets.

Earlier, the Bury-based company had sought volunteers for redundancy due to duplication of activities involving Webron.

Managing director Mr Peter Hawarth said: "We had asked for voluntary redundancies and quite a number came forward. The redundancies are virtually evenly split between office staff and production."

About the merger, he added: "This makes sense as both companies are involved in making the same products for the same markets. I'm very optimistic that the changes will secure the future of both manufacturers under the new name."

Production will continue to take at both Bury and Rawtenstall for the "foreseeable future".

A company announcement stated: "Over the next three months production will be rationalised to take advantage of the economies of scale of the combined businesses and equipment available at both sites to achieve best working practices for the new business."

Andrew Webron is a leader in international and domestic markets with approximately 65 per cent of its annual production exported worldwide. Its customers includes many leading global filtration equipment manufacturers and major fabricators of filtration products.

The company can trace its Bury roots back to the 1890s when Edward Andrew established its textile operation in the town.