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Engineering new jobs through expansion
A TEES Valley engineering company has announced multi-million pound expansion plans, which will create 40 jobs.
Darchem Engineering, a world leader in the manufacture of insulation systems for use in the aerospace, energy and marine sectors, is investing £2.5m at its Stillington headquarters.
The expansion will see growth in three areas of its operations - with the first phase set to be completed by the end of the year.
The firm has also secured a £315,000 Selective Finance for Investment grant from regional development agency One NorthEast.
The cash injection will allow the firm to extend its insulation systems facility, thermal protection business unit and aerostructures operations.
The additional roles - including production engineers, customer account managers, craftsmen and production staff - will take the workforce to almost 750.
Darchem Engineering has a strong presence in the global marketplace, exporting 40% of its sales, much of it to Asia. Increased demand for aerospace, oil and gas products worldwide have seen the firm take its operating facilities to capacity.
Andrew Taylor, commercial manager at Darchem Engineering, said: “Demand has increased so much in recent months that we needed to increase our resources.
“This has come as we have renewed a number of long-term contracts, and secured other new ones. Hopefully, the first extension will be up and running by the end of the year - with the rest following six to eight months later.”
Ken Samson, business finance manager at One NorthEast, said: “Darchem Engineering is an important company in the region and we are pleased to be able to support the firm at this important stage in its growth. This investment will create a number of essential jobs at the Stockton site and expand the capacity of this world -leading facility.”
Darchem Engineering recently triumphed at the Durham and Wearside Business Awards, organised by the Evening Gazette and its sister paper on Tyneside, The Journal. It will battle it out to be named the region’s best at the North-east Business Awards final at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield on May 1.
For tickets, call 0191 201 6089.
