New site will boost FES manufacturing operation and staff
13 Mar 2018
Engineering firm FES has boosted its staff by 40% with the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Northumberland.
The Cramlington facility will allow the company to bring its fabrication and manufacturing processes in-house and enable apprenticeship schemes and training.
Founded in 1998, the company supplies fluid transfer systems for oil and gas companies throughout the world. An estimated 90% of its business comes from outside the UK.
By contrast, the company, which employs 50 people in its Ashington base, has a supply chain limited to a 25 mile radius of the town.
Despite the current climate, we have taken the bold move to invest heavily in our long-term future
Rob Anderson, managing director, FES
The new plant will employ another 20 people initially within a 25,000 sq ft site, said managing director Rob Anderson (pictured right with technical director Ian Latimer).
“This investment demonstrates our commitment to the North East. There is the common assumption that manufacturing in Asia-Pacific is much cheaper than in the UK, but this overlooks the potentially expensive issues that come with quality and control problems,” he stated.
“We now have a manufacturing facility on our doorstep, making it much easier for us to ensure we continue delivering high quality products to the market. Despite the current climate, in which many businesses in our industry are closing or downsizing, we have taken the bold move to invest heavily in our long-term future.”
