Stourbridge glassworks bought by major customer

An historic Black Country glassworks is looking forward to major investment and new jobs after being sold to one of its biggest customers.

Tudor Crystal and its sister company Plowden and Thompson (P&T), of Stourbridge – both celebrating their 90th anniversary this year – have been bought by ET Enterprises Ltd (ETEL), Uxbridge.

The deal safeguards the future of the 17 workers at the 18th century Dial Glass Works, alongside the canal in Stewkins, Audnam, and paves the way for investment in new machinery which, in turn, will bring new jobs.

ETEL, part of Texas-based Ludlum Measurements, relies upon P&T to supply highly specialised glass for photomultiplier tubes, which have applications in the nuclear, health and film sectors and are used by scientists to measure sub-atomic neutrino particles in the earth.

And the new owners of the companies based at the Dial Glass Works, built in 1778, want to further develop manufacture of high tech glass, as well as continuing to produce traditional stemware, giftware, decorative lead crystal and coloured glass.

The sale, for an undisclosed sum, follows the decision by long-standing directors Richard and Barbara Beadman, who are preparing to retire in about a year's time.

"We've been through some very difficult times recently and really needed more investment to keep everything moving forward," said Mrs Beadman, aged 64, whose 66-year-old husband first joined the company as general manager about 30 years ago.

"It's an expensive industry and our gas bill alone averages £10,000 a month. The additional investment will initially bring a handful of jobs but, eventually, there could be more and who knows how many."

Mrs Beadman revealed that the couple rejected a bid from a Chinese company and decided to agree to the sale to ETEL because it was committed to retaining the workforce.

The Beadmans will remain at the company as consultants for up to a year as the new owners settle in.

"We're very sad that we will be leaving soon but are glad that we have found new owners who are large enough and interested enough in what we do to protect the business and build on it," said Mrs Beadman.