Vehicle tracking firm expands manufacturing plant

CHORLEY-based Scorpion Automotive, which makes and supplies vehicle security and tracking products and featured in BBC documentary ‘Thief Trackers’ earlier this year, has invested £1m in the expansion of its manufacturing plant.

It has invested in a second purpose-built factory adjacent to its Chorley headquarters, offering an extra 6,500 sq ft of work area.

The new manufacturing facility is next to Scorpion’s headquarters building, which houses R&D, technical, quality, sales and marketing functions.

Managing director Mark Downing said an expanding range of products and rising UK and export demand has also led to an increase in staff headcount to 80.

The movement in the exchange rate coupled with a stronger technical design capability and shorter lead times have led to an upsurge in orders, whereas customers might previously have looked to the Far East, he said.

Downing said: “This move marks a major milestone in Scorpion’s 43 year history necessitated by an unprecedented increase in UK sales of our GPS Stolen Vehicle & Fleet Management systems and an upturn in export sales and enquiries following the Brexit referendum decision.

“The weakness of the pound sterling is working to our advantage as it’s opened up more opportunities for export, and; weakened the position of our competitors who buy-in their finished products from overseas.

“This has had a positive impact across all our product lines, particularly vehicle alarms, immobilisers, LED lighting, custom electronics design and manufacture.”

To meet demand, the company’s ongoing capital investment programme has seen several new machines going into the new site, including an additional automatic surface mount electronics production line, new automated conformal coating process machinery and new semi-automated functional testing equipment for its growing line of vehicle LED and bulb failure modules.

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