Woking-based Harvey Water Softeners (HWS), a family-run manufacturing company, has marked its 40th year in business with its best-ever results.

The company, which builds and sells water softeners for homes in hard-water areas, saw its turnover grow to £26.5 million in 2017 (from £21.4 million the year before), while its output increased by 28% to meet customer demand, following more than £4 million of investment in R&D and its production line since 2015.

After posting double-digit growth for eight out of the last nine years, HWS is forecasting sales in excess of £30 million by the end of 2018, with a quarter of that coming from exports.

Managing director Martin Hurworth said (www.harveywatersofteners.co.uk): “It’s really pleasing to see these latest results, as the investment we’ve put into our people, our products and our production lines really starts to show in our sales figures.

“We’re growing faster than ever, but we are well-placed to keep up with demand, breaking factory records every month for the number of softeners made.”

Staff numbers at HWS’s Woking headquarters grew by 50% last year. The company was founded by Harvey Bowden in 1978 and is now Europe’s largest manufacturer of compact water softeners.