WIRRAL is playing a central role in the biggest revolution in the use of laundry detergents for more than a decade.

The all-new Persil Tablets are being produced at Lever's Port Sunlight factory and have created 250 new jobs in production and packing.

Persil Tablets have been developed in direct response to customer wishes for a more convenient washing product. Lever's say they will make doing the washing less of a chore, they are simpler, less messy and less wasteful than existing products because there is no need to measure out detergent.

Said Port Sunlight works director Gerry Hare: "Lever Brothers is the first manufacturer in the UK to launch a washing tablet nationally so we're very proud of our role here at Port Sunlight in making that happen."

Huge demand for Persil Tablets from retailers has meant around-the-clock production at the state of the art Wirral site which was awarded the prestigious Japanese Institute of Plant Maintenance Award in 1996 for manufacturing excellence and commitment to continuous improvement.

Production began at Port Sunlight over 100 years ago, in 1889, and has continued ever since although the high-tech enterprise which now occupies the site would be far beyond the wildest dreams of the Victorian William Hesketh Lever.

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