
Contec expands business with investment on Ashwood Business Park
Leading
contamination control manufacturing company Contec Cleanroom (UK) Ltd (“Contec
UK”), have expanded their operation and are building a new purpose-built facility
on Ashwood Business Park in Ashington.
Published: 28 September 2021
Contec
UK’s main trading activity is the manufacture and distribution of contamination
control products for use in manufacturing clean rooms and healthcare
environments. The company continues to expand is business in Europe and the
United Kingdom and is investing for future growth.
Contec UK currently occupy a 22,000 sqft unit at Wansbeck Business Park where they first began the Ashington facility production with seven staff in 2015. Their Ashington facilities focus on the manufacture of sterile and non-sterile biocides that are mainly used in the life science and pharmaceutical industry. Approximately 80% of the goods made in Ashington are exported to a distribution centre in France for global sale.
The team at Advance Northumberland, with support from the Department of International Trade under its Northern Powerhouse Key Account Management programme, have worked closely with Contec to facilitate their business growth and expansion plans within Northumberland.
Contec’s President, Avi Lawrence, says “We are excited about our expansion in Ashwood Business Park and appreciate the support from Advance Northumberland both on our existing facilities at Wansbeck and our expansion at Ashwood. We are also pleased with the possibility of creating jobs in the area and look forward to the opening of our new facility”.Contec Inc is a privately owned American company that was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It has just under 1,000 employees It has manufacturing facilities in Spartanburg, Ashington and Suzhou, China and distribution centres in Spartanburg, Ohio, USA and Vannes, France.
Jeff
Watson, Chair of Advance Northumberland said, “We’re delighted that Contec has
committed to building new amenities at Ashwood Business Park – and it’s
fantastic to be welcoming a company of their calibre and sector to the site. Ashwood
Business Park is a place where businesses can develop and expand, and we have
seen from the success of AkzoNobel and Bernicia Homes how companies can thrive
at this prime location.”
Ashwood
Business Park is also set to benefit from the £4m investment from major
international forecourt operator Euro Garages. The company will complete the
build on their circa 8,000 sq. ft development on the site in October, which
will include a petrol filling station, convenience store, and drive-through
Starbucks outlet. Infrastructure works started this month, a new access road
will be created off the Ashwood Drive roundabout, with the petrol station and
shop located on the northern section of the site with the coffee shop towards
the southern boundary.
The
62-acre Ashwood Business Park is owned by Advance Northumberland and is at the
heart of one of the North East’s strongest manufacturing clusters. It is a
North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Enterprise Zone, meaning that
organisations locating there can benefit from 100% Enhanced Capital Allowances.
The planned investment from Euro Garages and Contec marks another step forward
in the development of Ashwood Business Park. Last year, Advance Northumberland
and Northumberland County Council secured. £2.7 million from the North East LEP
for infrastructure improvements to encourage further inward investment and
growth projects at the site.