Major letting at business park to help create another 240 jobs

One of East Yorkshire’s biggest business sites has welcomed a home-grown manufacturer as its latest tenant.

Paneltex, a maker of specialised commercial refrigerated vehicles and storage systems, has completed a deal to move into a 140,000 sq ft industrial facility at Dianthus Business Park, premises which also include first-floor offices and amenities including a gymnasium and canteen.

Formed in Hull in 1991, Paneltex produces hundreds of refrigerated vehicle bodies, vehicle body kits, and portable cold stores each week, out of six factories across the UK.

The business confirmed last year that it had secured a contract to work with new zero emission electric vehicle brand Volta, supplying the cargo boxes for the new range, described as the world’s first purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne vehicle designed for urban logistics.

The move to the Newport facility will help create another 240 jobs and take employee numbers to around 900 once full fit-out of the premises is complete and manufacturing begins in May to produce products to ship to Austria.

It follows significant investment at the firm’s premises in Somerden Road, Hull, and a new export kit factory on Sutton Fields.

The deal to move to Dianthus Business Park was overseen by David Garness, of Hull-based commercial property specialists Garness Jones, which handles lettings at the site on behalf of its owners.

He said: “Paneltex are a fantastic business and real success story – a locally formed company which is leading the way in its industry through innovation and ambition.

“It is a business, which like many others on this site, is creating a lot of highly-skilled jobs and making a really positive contribution to the local economy.

“It is fantastic to be able to support them on the next step in their journey and it is another landmark letting for Dianthus Business Park, adding to the great diversity of businesses in occupation.”

Jelle Zwemstra, managing director at site owners Newport Buildings, said: “We are pleased to bring Paneltex onto Dianthus Business Park. They are a local, fast growing, successful company with a very strong management team, who require good quality modern facilities for their operations.

“We look forward to working with Paneltex and ensure that they can keep growing and bring even more employment to East Yorkshire.”