WEST YORKSHIRE, England Ownership of John Holdsworth & Co., a long-time leading supplier of upholstery fabric to the North American motorcoach industry, has changed for the second time in two years.

Control of Holdsworth was acquired last month by Camira Fabrics Ltd. of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and a new company was set up called Holdsworth Fabrics Ltd. within the Camira group.

In announcing the transaction, Camira said the Holdsworth brand "will be reinvigorated and positioned for a sustainable future from a stable and secure corporate platform."

In August 2005, following six generations of Holdsworth family ownership, the company merged with Hanson St. James, a private company with interests in textiles and property development.

The transfer to Camira links the 185-year-old Holdsworth with a company that was founded in the mid-1970s as a textiles manufacturer and got into the transportation sector four years ago when it acquired British Furtex Fabrics.

"We are tremendously excited about the opportunity to develop such a famous brand with a rich heritage, and we're confident that our proven formula of service, quality and on-going product innovation will bring even wider worldwide appeal," said Camira Managing director Paul Goodall.

"We're passionate about providing first-class textile solutions and are looking forward to developing a future-proof business for the benefit of existing and new customers in the transportation market sector."

Whether the revamped Holdsworth will continue to produce fabrics in West Yorkshire appears problematic. British press reports suggest production may be shifted to Asia to reduce costs and boost productivity.

Holdsworth has been producing fabrics at Shaw Lodge Mills since 1822. It is one of Halifax's last textile factories, and has long specialized in wool moquette fabrics for bus, coach, rail and ferry applications. Its products are sold in more than 40 countries and it operates subsidiaries in the U.S. and Australia.