ONE of Tavistock's major manufacturing employers last week received a real lift for Christmas when it moved into a brand new factory. Superwinch, which designs high performance winches, has transferred from its base at Abbey Rise, Whitchurch Road, to purpose built premises at Union Mine Road on Pitts Cleave Industrial Estate. Tony Sanderson, Superwinch's technical sales officer, said the move to Pitts Cleave would make the business more competitive in the market place. Mr Sanderson said: 'The old factory had come to the end of its life. It was fine when we were doing all the manufacturing here but in the last few years we have been buying in sub-contracted parts and the old factory became too large for our requirements.' 'At one time we had to manufacture components in our machine shops, but as time went on, other manufacturers could produce these components cheaper than we could and we found it difficult to compete at their prices.' Mr Sanderson said the firm had worked with West Devon Borough Council to ensure Superwinch stayed in the area. 'The council made it a prerequisite that the company remained in the borough if the company wanted to sell its Abbey Rise site at the best price for residential development,' he said. The site has now been sold to McCarthy and Stone, the retirement home builders. Mr Sanderson said it would have been more of a problem for Superwinch to sell the Abbey Rise factory if it had to remain for industrial use, as the building could have been unsuitable for other businesses. 'The main reason we moved to Pitts Cleave is that we could stay in the area. Firstly because Tavistock is the home of Superwinch and secondly our workforce live in the area,' said Mr Sanderson. He said the move would secure the firm's future and that of the workforce although it is not anticipating taking on more staff at the present time. Tim Bevan, the borough's head of economic and community development, said: 'We are pleased that Superwinch has decided to stay in the area and wish them well in their new premises, which will hopefully help to secure their economic development.' The company, based at its Abbey Rise factory since 1974, was known originally as Fairey Winches, before it was taken over by the American firm Superwinch. It manufactures winches and accessories and includes amongst its customers the Ministry of Defence and body builders of the vehicles of major road recovery firms. Its products are sold throughout the United Kingdom as well as to markets in the whole of Europe and Africa, while its sister company in the United States supplies the USA, Canada and Australia. Last month the company produced more than 1,200 items, which included winches and accessories for its specialist markets.