About us

Express Contract Drying Ltd (ECD) was founded in Tregaron, Wales, in 1991 by David McDermott. The company quickly established a strong reputation as a leading toll spray drying specialist and manufacturer of spray-dried ingredients in the UK. In its early years, ECD supported the spray drying requirements of food ingredient suppliers and manufacturers across the UK, United States and Europe, building a trusted international customer base.

In 2001, responding to growing demand for its spray drying capabilities and ingredient solutions, Express Contract Drying expanded its operations with the construction of a second production facility in Ebbw Vale, Wales.

By 2016, ECD entered an exciting new phase of growth, completing a £5 million, 60,000 sq. ft. expansion at its Ebbw Vale site. This significant investment has enhanced capacity and capability across the business, enabling food manufacturers to benefit from upgraded facilities, increased production flexibility and improved operational efficiency.

Fast forward to 2026, and ECD continues to go from strength to strength, most recently expanding into adjacent buildings and investing in a new spray dryer and blender. This ongoing development further enhances our capacity, efficiency and flexibility, ensuring we remain well positioned to meet growing customer demand and support the next wave of product innovation.

• Research and Development Facilities
• Laboratory Facilities
• Pilot Plant Facilities
• Additional Spray Drying Facilities
• Automated Blending and Packing Line
• Additional Warehousing

This enables ECD to offer seasoning and snack manufacturers an even broader portfolio of spray-dried ingredients, including vinegar powders and a wide range of named provenance products. These include juice powders, superfruit juice powders, cheese powders, sauce powders, alcohol powders, honey powders and syrup powders — all designed to deliver consistency, functionality and authentic flavour profiles across a variety of applications.