3M rises to challenge

Jul 18 2008 by Paul Gannon, Evening Gazette

AMERICAN manufacture 3M is to invest £4.5m in boosting production at its Newton Aycliffe plant.

The investment will be supported by a £675,000 selective finance grant from regional development agency One NorthEast.

Plant manager Keith Willson said it was a huge vote of confidence in the facility and its 370-strong workforce, who had secured the investment in spite of stiff competition from 3M sites in other parts of the world.

The investment creates the potential to grow production by 20-25% over the next five years.

“We have shown we have a skilled workforce that is fully capable of competing with emerging countries and economies,” he said.

The new production line will be dedicated to an innovative range of respirators which were developed at Aycliffe.

The respirators are used in woodworking, steel and engineering to protect workers from inhaling dust and particles and also in the health care sector against germs and viruses, such as avian flu.

The company said sales - 75% of which are to Europe - had achieved double-digit growth every year since 1997.

Ian Williams, director of business and industry at One NorthEast, said: “Securing this investment in Aycliffe is great news.”

The new production line is due to be operational at the site by June next year.