A Dorset-based company that manufactures full-body dryers for the leisure industry has received funding worth £140,000 from the HSBC bank to support its expansion into the health-care market.
Haystack Dryers (
www.haystack-dryers.com) — founded in Ferndown in 2000 — has pioneered the design and manufacture of full-body dryers. Its products can be found at theme parks, water parks, swimming pools and health spas throughout Europe, North America, Australia and the Middle East.
The HSBC finance facility has been used to develop a new dryer for elderly and disabled people. The Care Dryer
is currently in the final stages of development; it is expected to provide a £10 million boost to the company’s turnover over a five-year period and create 15 new jobs.
Managing director Paul Thomas said: “Providing care to the elderly and disabled — particularly when it comes to assistance with bathing, drying and dressing — can be time-consuming, costly and often very distressing for the patient. With help from our HSBC relationship director, we have been able to develop a product that addresses these issues.”