The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) President Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited James Dewhurst Limited in Altham, Lancashire on 27 January to recognise the strength and international reach of the UK’s technical textile sector.

Founded in 1933 as a small weaving business in Clitheroe, before moving to a purpose-built factory in Altham in 1990, James Dewhurst has developed into a global manufacturer of engineered and reinforcement textiles. The company produces woven, laid and laminated technical fabrics, often referred to as scrims, designed to strengthen and stabilise end products across construction, automotive and transport, geotextiles, health and hygiene, packaging and other industrial applications. The Altham facility remains central to its manufacturing operations, supported by a factory in the United States and an international customer base. Around 80% of output is exported to Europe, with the remainder supplied to the UK and other global markets.

Her Royal Highness arrived at the company’s manufacturing site was received by the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Josh Allen, the Mayoress, Robyn Bradshaw-Allen, the CEO of Hyndburn Borough Council, David Welsby, the Member of Parliament for Hyndburn, Sarah Smith, and UKFT CEO Adam Mansell.

The visit began in the board room, where The Princess Royal was introduced to Mr Stewart McGuffie, Chairman of UKFT, Jean-Charles Joris, Company Director at James Dewhurst, Clive Burnett, Financial Director of James Dewhurst, and Kath Thompson, Operations Plant Manager at James Dewhurst. Mr Joris provided an overview of the company’s history, capabilities and markets, followed by a display of sample technical materials produced at the site.

During a guided tour led by Mrs Thompson, The Princess Royal viewed multiple stages of the production process, including yarn arrival and preparation, beaming, knotting and weaving operations. Stops included the beaming and preparation area, weaving halls and water-based mixing area, where Grant Porter, Mixing and Warehouse Manager, explained how chemicals and water are prepared to support weaving processes.

Her Royal Highness also viewed the company’s proprietary Dewtex process, supported by two custom-built machines, where Process Leader David Cambridge outlined how the specialised fabric is engineered to enhance durability and performance in downstream materials. The visit highlighted the use of a wide range of high-performance fibres, including nylon, polyester, polypropylene and aramid fibres such as Kevlar, as well as dedicated beaming equipment for both glass and polyester yarns.

The Princess Royal was shown the company’s recent £2 million investment in creel winding technology, part of its ongoing programme to strengthen manufacturing capability and efficiency. James Dewhurst employs more than 120 people in the UK and operates continuous shift patterns to support round-the-clock production.

At the conclusion of the tour, The Princess Royal unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the visit, viewed the company’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise certificates, and signed the visitors’ book. A posy was presented by Customer Service Manager Catherine Campbell.

Mr Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT, said: “The visit recognises the depth of technical expertise and long-term investment present in UK textile manufacturing. Companies such as James Dewhurst demonstrate how advanced textile processes support critical industries and deliver high-value exports. It was a privilege to welcome The Princess Royal and to highlight the people, technology and skills behind this part of the sector.”

Jean-Charles Joris, Company Director at James Dewhurst, said: “James Dewhurst was honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal  for an official visit to our site in Altham, Lancashire. Her presence and engagement offered meaningful recognition of the essential role our industry plays within the wider UK manufacturing landscape. We are especially proud that her visit highlighted the strength, resilience, and innovation of British production. We extend our sincere gratitude to Her Royal Highness for acknowledging the craftsmanship and dedication that define our people and our products.”

James Dewhurst continues to focus on engineered textile solutions developed for performance and reinforcement rather than apparel use, combining proprietary technologies with application-specific product development for industrial customers worldwide.