Cooling specialist launches factory to meet demands of the digital revolution
Airedale by Modine, a Leeds-headquartered critical cooling specialist, has opened a new 14.6 acre production facility in Bradford.
It is in response to increasing demand from global data centre customers.
Airedale by Modine secured the site on the outskirts of Bradford in May this year and has since reconfigured the space for the manufacturing and testing of computer room air handlers and fan wall units.
An existing facility in Leeds will focus on chiller production. Between the two sites, overall UK data centre production capacity is expecting to increase by 150%.
In addition to increased production capability, plans for the site include construction of a state-of-the-art fan wall test centre.
Once complete, the new R&D facility will expand Airedale by Modine’s overall testing capabilities and will see it welcome customers from across the globe for factory acceptance tests.
Further job creation to support longer-term growth at the Bradford plant was forecast by the company back in May, with a projection of over 200 skilled production and support roles to be created over the next three to five years – about 10% of which are likely to be apprenticeship roles.
Adrian Trevelyan, managing director, said: “The opening of the new Airedale by Modine manufacturing facility in Bradford marks an important milestone for our organisation.
“With significantly increased capacity, we can offer extensive support to the development strategies of data centre operators, whose growth reflects the unfaltering demand for digital applications in society.
“I am pleased that as part of our strategy, we have been able to open a new production facility in Yorkshire in our 50th anniversary year, and invest further in manufacturing in the region.”
The company has enjoyed continual growth in its global data centre business, in line with rising demand for digital technology.
As part of its global expansion strategy, the business now operates out of Leeds, Bradford, Consett, Guadalajara (Spain), Rockbridge, (US), Grenada, (US), Allen, (US) and Calgary (Canada).
