Military blanket firm to expand

The idea for the blanket was thought up 17 years ago

A small Gwynedd company supplying the US military with high-tech survival blankets is set to double its output.

Blizzard Survival in Bethesda has moved to larger premises and plans to increase its 10-strong workforce.

General manager Howard Kendrick said the company's present success was due to "a strong take up" of its specialist survival products.

The blanket was developed originally to be used to keep weather-bound mountaineers alive.

The company expansion is due to investment from the Welsh Assembly Government.

"The assembly investment will enable us to buy a new machine to double our capacity," said Mr Kendrick.

Things are now coming to fruition Howard Kendrick

"Things are pretty buoyant for us at the moment and with the Danish and Finish armed forces checking our products, things are looking good."

Blizzard Survival was set up seven years ago by keen mountaineer Derek Ryden to produce a blanket he invented.

Known as Reflexcell, the material is super lightweight and made of a triple layer of foil which expands to form insulating air pockets as well as reflecting heat.

Mr Kendrick added: "After all the years that Derek stuck with it, things are now coming to fruition.

"It has really kicked off in the past 18 months since the American military interest."

As well as increasing production Mr Kendrick said the company was already working on "second generation products - a more advanced form of a couple of our products", which are due to be launched early next year.

On a visit to the factory, Ieuan Wyn Jones, the minister for economy, described small companies as "the bedrock of local economies".