Manufacturing group to create 50 jobs after £5m investment
Three Lincolnshire engineering firms have announced that they will be creating around 50 jobs this year after a £5m investment in new equipment and training.
Eminox, Hooton Engineering and CWM Automation, all part of the Hexadex Group, created nearly 70 jobs and supported 14 apprenticeships in 2018. The businesses, all based in Gainsborough, say they plan to increase these numbers further in 2019.
Overall the companies have a workforce totalling 430 people.
Eminox is a world leader in designing and manufacturing specialised emissions control systems for names such as Scania, Volvo and Caterpillar. These reduce harmful emissions and enable truck, bus and heavy machinery operators to better protect the environment and meet tightening air quality regulations. On the back of its growing order book, Eminox has invested over £4m in new equipment and staff training.
Hooton Engineering plans to double its growth in 2019 and will be expanding to a new, larger site on North Warren Road, Gainsborough. The company, which manufactures small to medium sized fabrications, mainly in stainless steel, works with businesses such as Derby Homes, Kerry Foods, Hovis and Noble Foods.
CWM Automation joined the Hexadex Group in October 2018. Having outgrown its current site, it will also be relocating to new premises that are nearly three times larger in 2019. The company creates bespoke machinery for leading food producers such as Yeo Valley, Troy Foods, Swizzels Matlow, Harvey & Brockless and the Samworth Brothers Group, producers of Ginsters pasties and pies. Its new site will allow it to facilitate larger turnkey projects and to deliver the higher workload that growth will bring.
The companies have major plans for worldwide expansion, and say they will provide opportunities for staff to work across Europe, China, Australia and the USA.
Mark Runciman, managing director for Eminox, said: “These are unprecedented figures. The engineering skills gap is not going away, and it is those in the industry that have to take steps to plug it.
“By investing in our staff and future generations, we can make sure we train them to meet our unique and high standards in a more efficient way.
“As one of the largest employers in Gainsborough, we want to make sure that we recruit locally for both new positions and apprenticeships, to support the Lincolnshire economy and provide a unique experience for those who join the company.”
Eminox and Hooton Engineering are also partners in ‘Made in Gainsborough’, a major initiative which encourages school leavers into engineering, and engages the local community with the sector and its benefits and opportunities.
David Meadows, managing director for Hooton Engineering said: “Our staff are our number one investment and that’s why we make sure we train them up. We have so many opportunities that we can offer, including travelling to various locations in the UK and Europe to work on site.
“Due to the unique work we do on behalf of our customers, every day is different and offers new challenges. It is an industry where you can put your creativity to the test.”
Mick Williams, managing director for CWM Automation, said: “Due to the rapid growth we are experiencing we will be moving into larger premises in 2019. Becoming part of the Hexadex Group has meant that we can now expand the business further and enter new fields – and with that comes the opportunity for new jobs.”
