A Worcester-based repair firm is backing British manufacturing after joining Ebac’s industry-leading engineering network, which aims to bring the local touch back to whitegoods repair.

AB Domestic Appliances has received extensive training from Ebac, with the manufacturer also providing a catalogue of spares and equipment. The aim is to resolve 99% of product issues within 72 hours throughout the seven-year guarantee period, which comes as standard with Ebac washing machines.

The network of more than 50 service engineers will also carry out servicing and maintenance, in addition to responding to repair call outs, providing customers with a local touch point for all things Ebac.

Ebac is the only British manufacturer of washing machines, which are produced at its factory in North East England. Ownership of the company was moved by its founder, John Elliot MBE, into a foundation preventing it from offshoring production and keeping jobs in Britain.

Before the decline of the high street, many British towns had an electrical repair shop, which was often family-owned. In recent times, that personal touch has been lost as electronic superstores, with offshore centralised call centres and online repair support, began to dominate the market.

Andy Billingham, managing director of AB Domestic Appliances, said: “We are very pleased to join Ebac’s engineering network. It’s a brand which is truly the best of British manufacturing, building its machines in its own factory and offering a seven-year long warranty, which no one else can beat.

“It’s important to have local engineers. They know the local area; whether you have hard or soft water, they know the wants of the customer base.”

Andrew Hobson, sales and marketing director at Ebac, said: “We’re very pleased to have AB Domestic Applicances joining our nationwide network of engineers. Having a local voice and face makes a huge difference to customers. There is nothing more frustrating than sitting in a call queue for ages, booking a visit with an engineer, only to have them say they’ll have to come back days later. Our products are designed to be reliable, but we recognise that occasionally problems will arise, but we want to minimise any issues and make sure our customers are able to carry on with their lives.

“Ebac understands that our appliances are vital to running their households. When something goes wrong with a washing machine, it can cause serious disruption to lives, especially for families. With our network of engineers covering every part of mainland Britain and Northern Ireland, we can be sure that any disruption is limited as much as possible.

“Our customers are not just a number. They are part of our Ebac family, so we want to look after them and make sure they receive the best possible service throughout the life of their product with partners like AB Domestic Appliances – that’s why we’re bringing back good local support for our customers.”