Oldham firm manufactures NHS support thanks to six-figure funding

Oldham-based Comfortex used Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) funding

Specialist foam product manufacturer, Comfortex Limited, has produced over 14,000 medical mattresses for hospitals globally during the coronavirus pandemic with the support of six-figure funding from NatWest.

The Oldham-based business used Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) funding to continue manufacturing its medical care products during the COVID-19 lockdown, doubling output of medical mattresses for the NHS and hospitals internationally.

Comfortex has been manufacturing foam products since 1997 and specialises in mattresses for home, nursery and medical sectors.

The business was established by Ray Beckwith, who has over 40 years’ experience in the manufacturing industry, and Nathan Beckwith, who oversees the business as Managing Director.

The business is one of the largest independent employers in the Oldham area and almost all employees have now returned to work after the lockdown when the team was reduced to a core group of 22 staff due to social distancing measures.

Comfortex is now looking to the future and will meet its sustainability goals after investing in new machinery last year to recycle foam offcuts, minimising waste and creating a new ecofoam in the process.

In the last financial year, the business turnover exceeded £10million.

Nathan said: “During the COVID-19 lockdown, our team decided it was our duty to meet the increased demand for medical mattresses caused by the pandemic.

"Despite incurring losses to keep the business open, we were proud to do our part, with help from NatWest, to support our NHS and public health both in the UK and abroad.

“After streamlining all our resources and concentrating on medical products we are pleased to have welcomed almost all our staff back to work in our other mattress sectors.

"We are now looking forward to meeting our future growth plans and continuing to be the leading comfort technology experts.”

Christopher Hesketh, Senior Relationship Manager at NatWest, said: “Comfortex is an incredibly successful business that has grown year-on-year since launching.

"The support we provided enabled the business to continue manufacturing thousands of products for the medical sector during the pandemic.

"We have worked with the business since 1998 and will continue to support Ray, Nathan and the team with their goals for future expansion.”

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