Manufacturer marks milestone with factory opening

PANEL Systems, a leading manufacturer of decorative and composite panels, is celebrating the opening of a dedicated CNC machining and cutting services factory in Sheffield after securing an RGF grant of £90,000 in its 40th year in business.

The company has made a total investment of £150,000 in plant and equipment at Waleswood, forming a dedicated new CNC Machining & Cutting services division. This will broaden Panel Systems’ CNC machining capabilities for products supplied to the construction, furniture, automotive, caravan and leisure equipment industry.

Panel Systems has also established two other dedicated divisions – Architectural & Composite Panels based at Parkwood Industrial Estate and Foam Fabrication & Distribution also based at Waleswood Industrial Estate.

Establishing the three dedicated divisions has also led to the creation of 10 new jobs in the last three months.

Chris Ibbotson, managing director of Panel Systems, said: “This is a very exciting time for our business. With three clear dedicated divisions, we have ambitious plans for the future, based on our expertise and use of the latest technology. We are delighted to have been awarded Regional Growth Fund (RGF) funding from the LEP’s “Unlocking Business Investment” programme which has enabled us to invest in our new factory and it is fantastic to be able to create new jobs here in Sheffield in our 40th year.”