Member Article

Yorkshire engineers announce major expansion plans

West Yorkshire manufacturers Multi-Tech Engineering are creating new jobs after raising a £3m investment from Yorkshire Bank.

The firm has plans to create roles for trainee engineers as part of a strategy to break into new international markets, and is also relocating to a larger, purpose-built premises in Ferrybridge.

Founded in 1987 by husband and wife Deborah and Richard Smith, the business now has plans to heavily invest in a 50-tonne overhead crane and modern machining centres in an office building three-times the size of its current base in Featherstone.

The company provides services to power, oil and gas industries, as well as plastics and other manufacturing businesses throughout the UK.

It also specialises in medium to heavy engineering, with full machining capabilities to make new components and assemblies and capabilities in repairs, refurbishments, grinding, welding and fabrication.

Over the next three years, Multi-Tech Engineers plan to recruit a quality engineer, trainee engineers, fitters and machinists as part of a plan to nearly double the workforce and increase its turnover to £5m.

Richard Smith, director of the firm, said: “In spite of the economic climate, there is continuing investment in plant, new equipment and technology in our industry and this is giving us a chance to grow and win more work.

“We have a highly-skilled workforce, stringent quality standards and the ability to provide our customers with a quick turnaround.

“Our investments in training, staff, plant and premises are part of a carefully-managed growth plan.

“Although we have had the expertise, we have had to turn down work beyond our machining and lifting capacity and this has held us back.

“As part of our growth strategy we are also looking to break into several new markets, particularly hydropower generation.

“Yorkshire Bank presented us with a finance package that suited us perfectly. They clearly anticipated and understood our requirements right from the start and have been extremely helpful throughout the project.”

Jason Bentley, business banking partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking centre in Leeds, said: “Multi-Tech Engineering is exactly the type of business which the UK economy needs to see expand.

“Yorkshire Bank has more than 150 years’ expertise in supporting the region’s manufacturers.

“We’re pleased to be assisting Multi-Tech Engineering in the next stage of its growth and are very much open for discussions with similar businesses with the right proposition.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .