AESSEAL expanding US operations
16 Dec 2012
Rotherham, UK– Yorkshire-based seal maker AESSEAL is investing £3.1milllion to expand its US operations, and has also purchased land and buildings on a site neighbouring its UK headquarters.
An extension at its Rockford, Tennessee base the company will house nine-axis machining centres to carry out complex machining - work that, until now, has been concentrated at its UK HQ, the global technology centre in Rotherham.
The company produces seals for industrial sectors ranging from oil and gas to food, water, minerals and mining. It has been operating in Tennessee for about 20 years and has a total US workforce of about 120 people.
The company linked the US expansion to issues with airfreight over recent years, and the need to have at least one other strategic location on another continent, from which it can supply the rest of the world.
“The decision to invest in the US is not a replacement of, but a complement to our existing UK manufacturing facilities, which we also intend to expand,” explained Group managing director Chris Rea.
“In fact, we have recently purchased the adjoining site to our UK headquarters, which will allow us to double our current Rotherham-based workforce at whatever pace our customers allow our business to develop,” said Rea.
The US is our largest market and this facility will provide our growing US customer base with another opportunity for emergency (up to 48-hour) supply, added chief executive Jonathan Wilkinson.
“Not only will there be no loss of UK jobs, but the company sincerely believes that it will lead to faster overall company growth, globally,” commented Wilkinson.
The US project - which follows a six-month feasibility study - is being led by manufacturing manager Andrew Driver, who is currently a US resident, although he started his career with AESSEAL in the UK more than 25 years ago as a machine shop operator.
