Express extension up and running
The first phase of an ambitious £3.2 million expansion drive – creating new investment, jobs and business in the North East - has been successfully completed by Express Engineering.
The Team Valley based operation has begun manufacturing in the 18,000 square foot extension of its site, with 20 retrained staff producing components, many of them for new clients.
The new facility has allowed the company to invest in the latest technology machinery, including large vertical lathes, horizontal machining centres and automated welding machines.
This enables Express Engineering to handle bigger and more complex commissions including CNC turning and milling up to 2m diameter and 3.2m long, automated weld cladding (Hot Wire TiG) and hydraulic assembly and pressure testing to 10,000psi.
More equipment is scheduled to come on stream later in the year, once the new electricity sub station which Express is having built is completed and commissioned. The initiative provides capacity for a 50% increase in turnover and will create about 40 new posts within the business, of which 10 have so far been filled.
As one of the UK’s leading contract manufacturing companies, providing high precision-machined components and assemblies to international clients in the aerospace, defence and oil and gas sectors, Express Engineering is making the investment to help secure more contracts in these areas, as well as developing opportunities in other markets including the region’s renewable energy potential.
Managing director, Nigel Davison, said: “We have enjoyed an extremely successful couple of years and despite the recent economic downturn we remain optimistic about the mid to longer term future. This project ensures that as the market place improves we will be perfectly placed to take advantage of the new opportunities out there, creating new job opportunities and long term security for employees and shareholders alike.”
Part of the expansion drive includes, for the third consecutive year, the recruitment of four new apprentices. Daniel Fullen, 16, and Liam Powell from Newcastle; Kristopher, McDermott, 16, from Chester-le-Street and Brendan Charlton, 17, from Washington are working towards an Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering with the support of TDR Training.
Bill Mole, inspector team leader at Express Engineering, said: “The apprenticeships we run are a great opportunity for young people to become skilled in engineering and help, in some way, to fill the UK skills shortage in the trade.”
“They’re also ideal for us as it means we can mould them into the engineers we need so that, once they’ve completed the four year apprenticeship, there is usually be a job waiting for them.”
Since its launch, 36 years ago, Express Engineering has grown to become one of the UK’s leading sub contracted manufacturing companies. From it’s extended 58,000 square foot facility the 143 strong workforce supplies precision engineering services to clients all over the world. For more information visit www.express-engineering.co.uk
