Nash Mills sales and marketing director Ian MacLennan (pictured) said UK business had accounted for 85% of the Hemel Hempstead firms sales, but that it had extended its business in Belgium with the Silken and Contemporary grades, and appointed a major merchant in the eastern bloc for Vanguard.

MacLennan hopes to announce the appointment of three UK merchants, one national and two regional, for Contemporary, the mills first new launch for seven years, along with one in Belgium.

Active dialogue is also taking place in Holland, Ireland and Singapore.

Nash Mills has also been granted a permit to operate under the UK Pollution Prevention Control Regulations 2000, as part of the extension of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) agreement.

It had to demonstrate best practice in controlling its environmental impact from emissions to air, land, water, waste and recycling.

So far some 90% of English and Welsh mills have attained the permits, with Scottish mills required to work to a later timescale.

Under the regulations UK industrial companies are required to make an application to the Environment Agency for a permit to operate.

Story by Andy Scott