“Astonishing” new machine takes centre stage.
A Walsall based company has invested in new plant and technology to meet demand for British-made saddle pads and numnahs.
A £70,000 bespoke machine is the centrepiece of accelerated production at IDX Limited.
The company - which already supplies saddle nails and covers to many big saddlery brands - can make saddle pads and numnahs to exact requirements, with small minimum orders and swift delivery.
“We’re bringing it back to Walsall,” declares IDX’s Paul Hadley. “Importantly, we’re making products from raw materials – not just assembling them.”
IDX only makes for other brands. “We have no intention of doing our own brand,” adds Paul.
“We’re working on samples using the new machine; it’s astonishing what it can do. It can cut and quilt to any patterns using any fabrics in any colours, to any design, shape or size.”
And those materials can include wool.
Creating new jobs
IDX previously supplied saddle pads but stopped around three years ago when multi-needle quilting became difficult to source in the UK.
“So, we set about having a machine made especially that manufactures for our purposes; it’s almost ready to go into full production,” said Paul.
Delivery of IDX’s UK-made saddle pads will be four to five weeks “although we can often run things through quicker because we’re making it ourselves in Walsall,” adds Paul.
The firm currently employs six people, but predicts new production will create at least another two jobs.
“We already have huge demand from America, even with the tariffs,” said Paul, “And, amazingly, I’ve just had a call from India because we’d been recommended by someone there,”
In all, IDX supplies to 43 different countries.
“We’re not cheap but we always win on quality and service,” adds Paul in a nod to the benefits of British manufacturing.
