The investment to be made by NGF EUROPE at its site in St. Helens, Merseyside, will create 24 new jobs. The site will become the first fully-integrated high tensile strength glass cord manufacturing factory in Europe and the only such facility outside Japan.
UK-based glass cord manufacturer NGF EUROPE Ltd., part of the NSG Group, has announces an investment of GBP 4 million at its site in St. Helens, Merseyside, with the creation of 24 new jobs.
The site will become the first fully-integrated high tensile strength glass cord manufacturing factory in Europe and the only such facility outside Japan.
The investment, which has been made possible by a GBP 500,000 Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative grant (part of the UK Government Regional Growth Fund), will add a fibre-forming facility at the site, an important primary process in glass cord manufacture, involving the production of glass fibre filament.
The growth in the market for high tensile strength glass cord created by the ever-increasing technological developments in the automotive market has led to the decision to invest in a facility which will manufacture the filament from raw materials.
The new facility will shorten production times with the site reducing its dependency on filament delivery from NSG in Japan and reduce transport costs and environmental impact, in line with NSG Group’s Sustainability agenda.
“The investment confirms our commitment to our customers in Europe and will ensure that our business remains at the forefront of technological development and is able to respond to customer demands and expectations. Furthermore, we are pleased that we are able to expand our advanced manufacturing capabilities in the Liverpool City Region and continue to invest in our successful apprenticeship scheme,” said NGF EUROPE managing director, Alistair Poole.
Work will begin on the new facility this month and the new fibre forming line is expected to be commissioned in June 2013.
Recruitment for the 24 new posts will begin in January.