Phil Wilson says secret millionaire boss John Elliott is just the kind of industrialist the region needs.
The MP for Sedgefield visited Elliott’s Ebac factory on Aycliffe Business Park – where washing machine manufacturing is expected to return to the region in 2014.
Mr Wilson said: “It’s a terrific example of how a great business is run, and the vision Ebac has shown to expand by bringing in washing machine manufacturing.
“I think John Elliott has put a lot of foresight into what happens at Ebac. I’ve spoken to him at length about how his business works.
“He’s always thinking ahead, and he’s the kind of industrialist we need in Newton Aycliffe and the North-East.”
Ebac is the UK’s only manufacturer of dehumidifiers at its Ayciffe factory, which employes more than 200 people.
Mr Elliott, who was the first to appear as TV’s secret millionaire, said: “I think Phil was surprised with what we do here.
“We do love making things here and we manufacture a wide range of products and we do lots of different functions as well. We make circuit boards, metal fabrications, plastic moulding and assembly.
“It isn’t the first time Phil has been here and I think it’s very important as a manufacturer in this area that our local MP gets involved in our business, because there are always times when we need a voice in Westminster.”
Mr Elliott says the first washing machine is expected to roll off Ebac’s production line a year from now.
He said: “This is the big thing, by this time next year we expect our first washing machines to be rolling off the line here.
“It’s going quite well. The design process is going well and everything is going to forecast, so we should we look forward to making delivering them next year.”