Expanding Autoclaves Group relocation complete
Autoclaves Group has moved to a new 20,000sq ft manufacturing and head office facility in Keighley, West Yorkshire, UK.
The lock, stock and barrel relocation is in direct response to continuing expansion and diversification of the business. It coincided with the 10th anniversary of the company.
"Autoclaves Group is now equipped with the flexibility to maintain our recent growth and more effectively respond to future opportunities and challenges‚" said Managing Director Russell Gibson.
The move itself represents a total investment close on £200,000. Autoclaves Group has taken over a site originally built for use in the traditional Yorkshire textile industry and more recently owned by a leading industrial crane manufacturer.
The project has seen £100,000 alone spent on complete renovation of the administrative hub, allowing Autoclaves Group to further develop and grow its office-based operations.
In addition, the factory has been completely refurbished, with the layout purpose-designed to give logical and effective product flow throughout all manufacturing processes.
The new factory is fitted out with:
- 4 overhead cranes with weight loading capability of up to 10 tons each.
- 5m wide access through roller shutter doors.
- 7 fume extracted welding bays
- CNC Punch Press, Guillotine, Pressbrake, Powered Rollers
- Paint spray booth.
- Dedicated Autoclave fit out area
- Dedicated Autoclave testing area
New roofing and wall cladding has been installed, with across-the-board replacement of all existing services - from electrical supplies right through to bathroom suites and safety signage.
Russell Gibson said: “The investment in this new facility allows us to continue to develop and expand our range of products within an ever-increasing number of industry sectors and applications. At the same time, it also allows us the flexibility to build much larger systems in-house than was previously possible.”
Autoclaves Group was established in 1999 in Sandbeds, Keighley, later relocating to larger premises in nearby Bingley. Further growth necessitated the move to the new headquarters, completed in September, 2009.
The company specialises in both new and refurbished autoclaves and ovens. Its core areas of business activity remain centred around the motor sport and aerospace industries. More recently, the group has successfully diversified into the investment casting, rubber curing, glass laminating, industrial sterilisation autoclaves and environmental autoclaves sectors.
Year-on-year growth in turnover over the past five years has been significant, with Autoclaves Group’s growing customer portfolio now covering the whole of the UK and many parts of Europe. The company now feels it is equipped with the potential to develop a global footprint.
Russell Gibson added: “We are proud to report that, despite the current economic climate, Autoclaves Group has continued to go from strength to strength. Our philosophy of continuous product improvement, coupled with the flexibility to offer our customers the system that best fits their process, has been the basis for our success - and will continue to be the foundation for all our future activity.”