10.06.2006

UpRight production to move

The Tanfield group has secured a £1.95 million Selective Finance for Investment grant from regional development agency One North East to help fund a new production plant for the group’s access equipment.

The company has signed a long term lease on Vigo 250, the former LG Electronics plant in Washington. The facility is expected to generate around 400 new jobs over the next three years.

The Vigo 250 facility is one of the largest in the region at over 23,000 Square metres (250,000 sq ft) on a 15 acre (6 ha) site.
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The new Tanfield facility in Washington, Vigo 250, will build UpRight and Aerial products

Darren Kell, business development director at Tanfield, told Vertikal.Net that UpRight machines would initially be dual sourced from the current plant in Ireland and the new facility in the UK. He also said that ideally demand would be such that both plants would run alongside each other and be kept fully employed.

The new UK facility however has enough space, once it is fully functional, to keep pace with UpRight’s likely capacity demands over the next few years.

Ron Stanley, chief executive and chairman of the Tanfield Group, said: “Our vision has always been to build a global manufacturing business with the North East as its heartland.

“We are living proof that manufacturing in this region is not dead and buried. Companies can still be profitable and competitive, provided they continue to add value.

“This move will not only result in 400 jobs being created over the next three years, but will see the flagship vigo250 facility, one of the largest manufacturing sites in the region, brought back into use”.

“Thanks to the assistance we received from One NorthEast, we have the opportunity to construct a global brand, with its roots planted firmly in this region,” added Mr Stanley.