Fort Vale invests in innovation
AN East Lancashire engineering firm has invested in its future by expanding its operation with the launch of its own £1.5m research and development facility.
Work been completed on Fort Vale Engineering’s innovation, research and development centre at its headquarters in Simonstone.
The firm, founded by chairman Ted Fort in 1967, has seen sales surge in recent years, with turnover rising 50% to £63.5m in the year to February 2012.
Its investment in the 20,000sq ft centre is part of Fort Vale’s ongoing commitment to innovation. Included in the facility is an enlarged apprentice training centre and tool room.
The company, three times a winner of the Queen’s Award for Export, is a leader in the design and precision manufacture of valves and equipment for the builders of road tankers and ISO container tanks that transport liquid, gas and hazardous cargo globally, Recently it has begun working on projects in the nuclear sector.
Director for Innovation, Andrew Bryce, said: “We believe in investing in our future and our new research and development centre will allow us to maintain our market share and have the extra production capacity for new sectors.
“Although we are a worldwide operation, it’s important to keep the main production in Lancashire and capitalise on the area’s talent. We have also expanded the on-site apprentice training centre to ensure we continue the dedication to young people we have shown over the past 45 years.”
Fort Vale exports 90% of its sales and employs 330 people in Lancashire with a further 150 at its subsidiaries in the US, Netherlands, Russia, Australia, Singapore, and China.
