Watson-Marlow invests in manufacturing capacity

Published: 1-Jun-2021

Its UK based Aflex and BioPure businesses have benefited from investment in the UK manufacturing facilities

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) has made significant investments in manufacturing capacity for several of its businesses.

The group saw geographical expansion in 2020, establishing sales companies in Hungary, Norway and Finland. A sales company was also established in Czech Republic which began trading in January 2021.

As a result of increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company made significant investments to increase manufacturing capacity. At its main UK facility in Falmouth, there has been an expansion of cleanrooms, adding a third tube extrusion line and trebling the offsite warehousing capacity.

Its UK based Aflex and BioPure businesses have also benefited from investment in the UK manufacturing facilities. The £23 m, 16200 sqm manufacturing site for Aflex, in Yorkshire, delivered its first production output during the second quarter of 2020. This facility consolidates Aflex’s original five sites into one purpose-built site, with four having transitioned to the site in 2020 and the final site due to complete its move in September 2021.

The group’s board also approved a £24 m investment to construct a 11,000 sqm manufacturing facility in Portsmouth for BioPure; which supplies fluid path technologies for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. Five times the size of the current site, the location will also have a six-fold increase in machines and a five-fold increase in cleanrooms. This significant investment will further support the group’s growth in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector.

“2020 was a year like no other; however, we are absolutely delighted that our own business saw expansion, not contraction,” said Martin Johnston Strategic Business Development Director, at Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group. “We’ve always been a business that believes in investment and innovation – and our plans to expand our capacity in three of our business brands is proof of our commitment.

“Investment in three of our UK facilities is also very good news for British manufacturing and good news for our customers too. This will also catalyse local employment opportunities for the long-term and will support many new, highly skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs. We’re future-proofing our business and preparing for the next stage in our exciting journey.”

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