Member Article

New lab investment supports growth at Gateshead asbestos management specialists

A Gateshead firm specialising in asbestos management services has announced further new investment in its testing resources and technical capabilities to meet demand for its expertise.

The undisclosed £200,000 investment sees Lucion Services extending its operations at its Halifax Court-based laboratory, boosting its capacity to undertake bulk analysis and air monitoring for customers using high powered scanning electron microscopy by 30%.

Once the extended site, which includes additional office and lab space, is fully operational in spring 2018, it will be one of the largest facilities of its type currently in use in Europe, operating seven days a week.

An additional 10 analysts have been appointed, bringing the total number of analytical experts to 30, and taking to 54 the overall number of people employed in technical support services.

There are also plans to recruit an additional five analysts over the next two months as testing activity continues to ramp-up in the face of strong demand.

Specialist training is a key component of an investment package that will ensure new starters are multi-skilled in both lab and admin support work, and qualified to appropriate asbestos industry standards.

Lucion uses scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technology to more effectively measure the amount of airborne asbestos fibres when compared to other techniques.

This latest round of investment will expand the firm’s capacity to use this technology to provide national customers with recommendations for the safe handling and, if necessary, removal of asbestos materials.

The UK asbestos market for surveying and air testing work is worth more than £240 million nationally – a figure that is expected to increase in line with demand for industry expertise and specialised advice.

Lucion is seeing strong demand for its expertise, particularly in the education sector, where asbestos containing materials are present in thousands of old school buildings.

New investment strengthens its position as a leader in environmental risk management services together with the testing of soil and industrial land for asbestos contamination.

Currently employing approximately 300 people and with a turnover of £23m, it operates a national network of 12 offices providing services to local customers.

Laboratory operations manager Lee Kerridge said the testing facility was busier than ever, with strong interest in SEM services.

He added: “We are making this investment now to enable us to scale up the size and scope of our lab services as we look to secure the needs of our customers now and well into the future.

“Expanded technical support capacity, a highly skilled team and the use of advanced testing equipment, ensures we will continue to be market leaders delivering the highest levels of service and expertise.”

Lucion Services brings together a group of multidisciplinary risk management companies to help clients achieve full compliance with occupational and environmental safety regulations.

Across the group, skilled and fully qualified staff deliver a range of dedicated hazard identification, assessment and remediation activities to ensure the prevention of harm to people, property and the environment. More details at www.lucionservices.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucion Services .