Arena to open second Scandinavian base

INDUSTRIAL services group Arena Instrumentation is opening a second office in Scandinavia.

Ellesmore Port-based Arena, which is expecting sales to top £4m this year up from £3.5m, is set to open offices in Denmark.

The company, which revealed plans three months ago to set up a base in Malmo Sweden, specialises in maintaining and calibrating industrial machinery.

Managing director David Dawe said the new opportunity had been identified by the Arena team setting up the Swedish operation.

He said: “After several exploratory visits to Sweden and following exhaustive on-site research it became clear to our people that there was an equally strong case for Arena to have a base in Denmark,” said Mr Dawe.

“Although we were by that stage committed to setting up an Arena base in Malmo complete with staff including highly qualified technicians, our team’s inquiries revealed that an investment in a separate Danish base was equally viable.

“Their recommendation formed the basis of further discussions with our advisors, the UK Trade and Investment Northwest (UKTI), and as a result we have given the go head for establishing a site in Denmark.”

Mr Dawe, who launched the company 25 years ago this year, said the region was a promising source of new business opportunities.

“Our expertise in calibration, laboratory equipment maintenance, technical support and asset management will be of interest to potential clients among the pharmaceutical, R&D, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies that operate across both countries.”

Arena, whose clients include Rolls Royce and the NHS, has invested £250,000 in its European expansion

“This move into Europe is simply the next phase in our on-going development,” added Mr Dawe.

Arena has 65 staff and is is recruiting for a futher seven positions across its three UK offices.