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30
Mar 2021
Knaresborough company expands into mortuary industry
Coronavirus has forced a Knaresborough manufacturer to adapt its trolleys and racks for use in morgues, rather than catering venues.
Craven & Co has been in operation for more than 60 years, with 80% of its products used in the catering and hospitality industries.
During lockdown many of these orders dropped off, but the company's previous work making medical supplies meant that it won a vital NHS contract.
It was tasked with making frontline medical equipment for the Nightingale hospitals, including 12,500 IV stands, which were transported across the country.
Wez Dance, its director, said this came as a "godsend" that led to further NHS work. The new contract also encouraged Craven & Co to move into the mortuary industry as it had previously planned.
Its existing products such as racks and trolleys can be easily adapted for mortuaries.
Mr Dance suspected the high numbers of catering and hospitality orders they received pre-lockdown would never return and that diversifying was necessary.
He said:
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The company appointed a new sales manager, Trevor Russ, with previous experience in the mortuary industry to help with the expansion.
Mr Dance added:
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