Jobs boost as manufacturer Henrob expands
FAST growth international manufacturer Henrob, is set to create 100 jobs by expanding into a new facility near Chester.
The company, which makes self-piercing rivets used in the automotive sector, has bought a new site in Deeside, supported by HSBC.
It has purchased a 150,000 sq ft building next to its current 100,000 sq ft base on the Deeside Industrial Par. It has already added 70 new roles over the past 12 months to bring UK staff numbers to 200, and it expects employee numbers to rise to 300 by the end of 2015.
Henrob has secured a £5.2m finance package from HSBC’s Liverpool Commercial Centre to support the acquisition of the building, which is currently being used as a warehouse, and to convert it to a manufacturing facility.
The company has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years and turnover grew from £23m in 2012 to £42m last year. It is targeting a turnover of around £50m this year.
The business, which also has operations in Germany, the US and Australia, works primarily with the automotive sector – customers include Jaguar Land Rover.
Its products are also used within other sectors such as air conditioning and road sign manufacturing. Some 80% of sales are generated from the export market, with strong markets including Germany, the US and China.
The company was founded in the early 1980s by Keith Jones, who acquired the rights to self-piercing rivets after being introduced to the technology in Australia.
Finance director Philip Whitehead said: “This is a major investment by the company but one we feel is necessary to support our business growth.
“We are constrained by our existing base, so the additional facility gives us the manufacturing capacity to meet our customers’ current and future needs. We have grown rapidly in recent years and we are experiencing strong global demand, so we expect that growth to continue.
“The expansion also benefits the local economy, and we are creating 100 new jobs over the next 18 months in a wide number of fields.”
HSBC’s senior international commercial manager Daniel Peacock led the deal and said: “Henrob is a high-growth business that HSBC has worked with for a number of years, so we are pleased to have supported this latest investment, which further strengthens our relationship.”
