Alway Celebrates 40 Years

Alway’s journey began in the 1980s in The Maltings, Sileby, with a small, dedicated team supporting local businesses, including Walkers Crisps.

In the 1990s, the company relocated to Barrow Upon Soar, setting the stage for future growth. It was during this time that Jason Larke, now Managing Director, joined the company. Alway expanded its offerings into various food sectors and even undertook international work, investing in advanced tools such as a spark erosion machine to meet evolving customer demands.

The 2000s saw a major transformation as Alway moved into a purpose-built facility in Loughborough, enabling it to support blue-chip companies and household names across the UK and beyond. This move was instrumental in scaling up both production capacity and technical capabilities.

In the 2010s, Alway’s reputation for design and engineering innovation continued to grow. They developed and installed direct feed systems for brands such as Walkers Crisps and Hotel Chocolat, further strengthening their position in the food manufacturing industry.

The 2020s marked a new era of diversification and expansion. Alway became a larger group of companies that includes:

• BagForm – manufacturers of VFFS forming sets
  
  

• Aqualine – specialists in designing, manufacturing and installing stainless steel drainage and kerbing solutions
  
  

• CANALNTM – experts in tobacco recovery systems
  
  

With expanded manufacturing and office facilities, Alway now employs a team of over 30, including a full management structure, and continues to deliver cutting-edge engineering solutions. One such innovation is the HSP9000, a pioneering blue cheese piercing machine developed entirely in-house and successfully brought to market.