Filtermist begins work on new £3m headquarters at T54
OIL mist extraction specialist, Filtermist International, has begun work on its new £3m global headquarters in Shropshire.
The company, which exports its oil mist collectors to 60 countries, has selected the Telford 54 (T54) site as the location for the new building. The construction is being completed by Morris Property.
James Stansfield, Filtermist’s managing director, said: “The new headquarters signals the start of an important new chapter in Filtermist’s history by ensuring we are capable of meeting growing global demand for our products.”
Following a long period of sustained growth in both the UK and overseas, Filtermist has outgrown its current manufacturing premises in Bridgnorth. The company worked closely with Telford and Wrekin Council and the Homes and Communities Agency, which owns the T54 site before committing to the development.
The HCA owns 31ha of development land at T54, together with land at Hortonwood and Halesfield business parks.
Nick Bird, Area Manager for the HCA, Midlands, said: “We have been working closely with Telford council’s Estates Team to market our land and win more new business investment into the Borough. Filtermist’s announcement is a big breakthrough for T54 and is stimulating more interest in the site, with a further two agreements in the pipeline.”
The new facility will include 848m² of office space and 1,918m² of production, warehousing and dispatch facilities.
Telford 54 is part of a wider regeneration programme aimed at encouraging both national and international businesses to invest in the region.
Cllr Bill McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Finance and Enterprise, said: “Telford is home to over 150 international companies and we’re delighted to add Filtermist to the ever growing list. The town and surrounding areas benefit from a number of inward investment incentives and we pride ourselves on the aftercare we offer to businesses that choose to locate here.”
The new site’s close proximity to its current Bridgnorth facility has also meant that Filtermist will be able to retain its workforce.
“We are fortunate to have a very dedicated and loyal workforce so we wanted to ensure the location of the new site would not be detrimental to any of our existing employees,” added Stansfield.
Shrewsbury-based Morris Property is due to complete the build by the end of July 2015.
Pictured at the groundbreaking ceremony are, from left: Tony Landh, CEO Absolent Group (Filtermist parent company), Brian Lowe, Manufacturing Manager, Filtermist, Simon Baker, Filtermist Technical & Design Manager, Craig Bridgwater, Filtermist Assembly & Despatch Manager, Val Williams, Filtermist Financial Controller, Randall Taft, Operations Director Filtermist International, Stuart Plimmer, Sales Manager, Filtermist, David Reece, Contracts Manager, Morris Property and Ian Galliers, Chief Executive, Morris Property. Filtermist Managing Director James Stansfield is pictured front with Telford & Wrekin Mayor, Cllr Malcolm Smith.
