Meet the Team: A Q&A with Nigel Birch, Head of Quality & Testing
14th August 2026
When you play on a Hainsworth cloth, you’re experiencing the result of decades of textile expertise, precision manufacturing and rigorous testing. Every metre of cloth that leaves our mill has been carefully checked to ensure it delivers the speed, consistency and durability players expect.
In this edition of our Meet the Team series, we sat down with Nigel Birch, Head of Quality & Testing, to learn more about the work that goes on behind the scenes to maintain the high standards Hainsworth Cue Sports is known for.
How long have you worked at AW Hainsworth?
I’ve worked at AW Hainsworth for a total of 22 years across two different periods with the company.
Have you always worked in textiles?
Not quite. I actually started my career in quality control at a brickworks before moving into textiles in 1992 with the International Wool Secretariat (Woolmark).
I joined AW Hainsworth in 1997, later moved to WT Johnsons, before returning to Hainsworth, where I’ve continued developing quality assurance and testing across the business.
Can you explain your role at Hainsworth in relation to Cue Sports?
My role is to ensure we consistently produce high-specification performance cloth from the raw materials right through to the finished product.
We have procedures and quality checks in place throughout manufacturing, and my team audits these processes while carrying out routine testing to ensure every cloth meets the performance standards we’ve set.
What does a typical day as Head of Quality & Testing look like?
There really isn’t a typical day.
Working in a vertically integrated woollen mill that manufactures such a diverse range of products means every day brings something different. I work alongside a great team, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our processes to maintain and verify the high standards both we and our customers expect.
Why is quality and testing so important for cue sports cloth?
Our philosophy has always been based on creating cloth that offers the ideal balance of speed and durability, giving players greater control and a more enjoyable game.
Consistent quality checks throughout production, combined with testing in our UKAS-certified laboratory, ensure customers can have complete confidence in the performance of every cloth we produce.
What kind of tests do the cloths go through?
We carry out inspections throughout manufacturing to monitor characteristics including weight, width, thickness, nap length, shade and overall process effectiveness.
In our laboratory, we test durability through tensile strength, tear resistance and abrasion testing. We’ve also developed specialist methods to examine the pile and better understand the factors that influence playing performance.
What advice would you give someone starting a career in textile manufacturing or quality assurance?
Listen to the experienced people around you.
Producing fabrics from natural fibres isn’t always straightforward, and the knowledge built up through years of experience is invaluable.
Do you have a career highlight?
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to exhibitions, meet customers and suppliers, and visit machinery manufacturers.
However, one of the things I enjoy most is giving factory tours. I love telling the story of what we do here at Hainsworth, and if visitors leave having found it interesting, that’s incredibly rewarding.
What was it like meeting Ken Doherty?
Ken was great.
He’s a funny, down-to-earth guy who took the time to chat with many of the team across the factory. He was genuinely interested in our manufacturing processes, particularly how we control different parameters to achieve the exact fabric specifications we require.
He was also surprised by the sheer variety of products we manufacture here at AW Hainsworth.
Do you play snooker or pool?
I play pool socially on the table here at Hainsworth.
I think it’s actually my involvement in producing the cloth that draws me in. I can’t walk past a pool or snooker table without checking the quality of the cloth!
If you had your own table, what cloth and colour would you choose?
We have a fantastic range of colours, and Match Teal looks really good.
That said, I’m a traditionalist. For a snooker table I’d choose Hainsworth Precision in Olive Green because of its speed and playing quality. For a pool table, I’d choose Hainsworth Match, it offers fast play while providing that extra bit of durability.
Quality You Can Trust
Behind every Hainsworth Cue Sports cloth is a dedicated team committed to delivering exceptional quality. From carefully selecting raw materials to carrying out rigorous testing throughout production, every stage is designed to ensure players experience consistent speed, durability and performance.
Nigel and his team’s expertise is a key part of what makes Hainsworth cloth trusted by clubs, table fitters and players around the world. Their commitment to quality helps ensure that every game played on Hainsworth cloth lives up to the reputation we’ve built over generations.
