Handing over, Chris Ducker, Ducker’s former owner and chairman, thanked his team and described the Kannegiesser team as the natural succession.

Describing the close relationship between the companies, Martin Kannegiesser said that in the last seven years Ducker had become the most competent and reliable technical supplier to the UK and Ireland textile care group and was now an important part of the Kannegiesser group.

Following Chris Ducker’s resignation, Kannegiesser’s Dirk Littmann becomes managing director of Ducker, although still based in Germany.

The other Ducker directors are Martin Bull, special projects and business development; Andrew Cartwright, sales and service; Kath Hartley, finance and company secretary; and Martin McGeever, engineering.

The Ducker name will continue under the new owner, as will the Banbury and Kendal sites.

Kannegiesser plans further investment in the Supertrack material handling and sorting system. It will also continue the full Ducker product range, including the Revolution roller towel processing system and Thermopatch label distribution.