Longbenton manufacturing plant boxes clever

Jan 6 2010 by Chris Knox, The Journal

STAFF at a Longbenton manufacturing plant have been given a boost after landing a number of large-scale contracts, including the replacement of Royal Mail’s network of red post boxes and production of a hospitality trolley.

The work has been awarded to the manufacturing arm of Stockport-based facilities management giant Romec and will see its Newcastle workforce grow from 80 to beyond 100 by next year.

Despite Romec employing 4,300 people across the country, its entire manufacturing operations are based in Newcastle, where it is looking to expand into adjacent land on the back of the new work.

The group, which is part-owned by Balfour Beatty Workplace after it took a 49% share in the company in 2002, was founded in 1989 by Royal Mail to look after its estate of 2,500 buildings.

The firm has since strengthened its relationship with the national postal service by providing sorting office equipment and large business park post boxes, and has been assigned the task of replacing many of the 100,000 red pillar boxes throughout the UK.

Work has begun on the replacement boxes, which are made from tougher metals than the original cast iron boxes, with increased production at Longbenton expected to help the group grow its sales from £195m to £280m in five year’s time.

The site is also set to step up the production of a four-wheeled trolley based on the models used by sandwich vendors in central London and said these would be targeted at the UK hospitality as well as for use within Royal Mail sorting offices.

A spokesperson for the company said: “The work will help create new posts at the factory in Newcaatle, with the possibility of expansion into adjacent land.”

Staff at the Longbenton site have also been working on a series of updated National Lottery kiosks, introduced in 27,500 outlets throughout the UK as part of a £16.5m investment by Camelot, and include new touchscreen models and in-built printers.

Paul Carr, Romec director of manufacturing, said: “This project marks a real departure for the manufacturing group because it is essentially a steel fabrication plant that has made its name making everything from business park post boxes through to hi-tech sorting office equipment.

“The current trend for all-day refreshments can be achieved through this leading edge trolley.

“The trolley is ideal for catering firms operating in large office complexes or factories, as well as for hospitals.”