Arkoni unveils new facility following investment boost
ARCHITECTURAL metalworking specialist Arkoni has officially opened its new £250,000 workshop facility.
Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chair Roger Marsh opened the 1600 sq m workshop, which includes a hi-tec Computer Numerical Control (CNC) cutting machinery and a machining centre.
The LEP’s Business Growth Programme, supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, provided a significant amount of the investment.
Marsh said: “Arkoni is experiencing high growth and increasing demand for its range of products. The workshop and machinery funded by the LEP gives the company additional capacity to meet growing demand.
“The LEP is supporting ambitious businesses across the Leeds City Region with both grant and loan investment packages to enable businesses to implement their plans for growth.
“Manufacturing is a vital part of the region’s economy and 70% of total
available funding across the region has gone into this sector so far.”
Arkoni MD and founder Mark Prentice said: “We’re continuing to operate at
full capacity with growing demand from commercial construction projects
nationwide playing a big part in our success.
“We’ve increased our workforce by well over 10% over the past twelve months
and will shortly be announcing yet another record contract gain. We’re bucking the trend in terms of declining manufacturing but are the perfect bell weather for the healthy state of the construction industry across the region and the UK as a whole.”
“The support from the LEP is critical at times of expansion and we are very
grateful for all the support they have given us and continue to give us,” he added.
Arkoni, established in 1991, specialises in the manufacture and installation of bespoke fire resistant glazing, and steel and stainless steel thermally broken window and door systems on behalf of many of the UK’s major construction firms, as well as balustrades, glazed canopies and staircases.
The company currently employs 52 at its Brighouse HQ and reported a 2013/2014 August to July turnover of £5.25m, a 30% increase on the previous twelve months. Arkoni expects to report a similar level of growth for the period 2014-2015.
