Welsh Government minister opens Universal Engineering factory
Universal Engineering, specialises in designing, developing and manufacturing close tolerance complex assemblies and equipment for the sub-sea, oil and gas sectors, defence and aerospace industries.
The multi-million pound investment is backed by £2m business finance from the Welsh Government to support the creation of the 200 new jobs. The new ¼ million feet2 facility will increase the company’s capacity to meet growing global demand for its services.
Edwina Hart said: “Advanced manufacturing is a key sector of the Welsh economy and I welcome this investment by Universal Engineering which is already creating a significant number of high skilled jobs as well as career opportunities for young people.
“Working across a number of highly specialised sectors, Universal Engineering will extend the manufacturing and engineering capabilities in Wales and I am delighted the company chose Wales for their expansion plans.”
The 16-acre site at Llantrisant was selected from a shortlist across the UK and abroad because of its good transport links, which include the nearby deep-water ports at Newport and Cardiff, and the availability of a capable workforce.
Universal Engineering’s Chairman, James Gaggero said: “Advanced engineering is one of the strengths of the British economy. We are energised at the prospect of engaging with the highly skilled workforce in south Wales in building our capabilities in this sector. We are working closely with Coleg Gwent to help us find the right people to ensure international standards are achieved and are especially delighted that 65 have already joined us. I would like to thank the minister and her colleagues in the Welsh Government for their encouragement and support without which it would have been very difficult to convert our vision into a reality in such a remarkably short timescale.”
Mark Cooper commented: “Our existing customers are asking us to supply more highly specialist products and expert services, while increasing numbers of potential customers are showing close interest in finding out more about what we can deliver from this extraordinary facility.
The staff at our new factory in Llantrisant will be able to undertake Structural Steel design, fabrication and complex assemblies for the sub sea oil & gas industry, as well as vehicle chassis and materials handling equipment and a machining capability in support of defence equipment customers. Having installed the largest HD plasma profiler in Britain the company can produce ultra-close tolerance large plate steel parts and we have the capability to fully finish all products with a dedicated large scale paint facility in house.”
