A CITY door manufacturer has gone out of business after 40 years.

All 38 jobs at the Warndon factory of GBW Panels have been lost after the manufacturer went into administration on June 25.

Administrators Joph Young and Paul Masters from Leonard Curtis were appointed joint administrators of GBW Panels Ltd on June 26, and the firm's assets was subsequently bought by another window company, Customade, which is based in Gloucestershire.

GBW Panels operated from Berkeley Business Park in Warndon and specialised in the manufacture and supply of UPVc door panels, composite doors and replacement roof products to customers across UK and Europe.

Customade has bought the manufacturing assets of the company, meaning that GBW panels will now be manufactured in Birtley, County Durham.

A spokesman for Customade said: “We reviewed the business in conjunction with the administrators Leonard Curtis and we were unable to find a workable solution to keep the business as a going concern.

“As a result, Customade made an offer to only purchase the assets of the business and this was accepted.

“These assets will be transferred to our Virtuoso Doors factory in Birtley where we will continue to manufacture the range of GBW doors.

“Unfortunately this does mean the loss of all jobs at the Warndon factory.”

GBW was placed into administration by its directors after it experienced a “prolonged period of declining sales, a couple of significant bad debts and tough trading conditions in the UK and overseas.”

Due to increasing pressure on margins and high fixed operating costs the directors were concerned that the company was no longer viable.

All trade was immediately stopped.

Administrator Joph Young said: “In spite of exhaustive actions by the Company’s directors the business was unable to continue trading.

“Our efforts will now be focussed on providing the affected employees with the appropriate support whilst looking to maximise realisations for the benefit of the Company’s creditors.”