LOCAL progressive building products manufacturer Acheson and Glover is to invest around £2m at its Fivemiletown plant as sales of its innovative building materials soar across the UK and Ireland.
The investment on a new wash plant at Fivemiletown will safeguard jobs at the plant for the forseeable future.
The family-owned firm which has its UK and Ireland headquarters at Fivemiletown has recently spent £145,000 on a new Curing Chamber to increase output and efficiency at the facility which makes walling and paving products for the United Kingdom and Irish commercial and residential markets.
Local councillor Victor Warrington welcomed the news saying, “I was just talking to an employee at the weekend who told me they have never been busier.
“They are working weekend shifts to cope with demand, so obviously any further investment has to be welcomed to secure those jobs that are already there.
“I know they have certainly cut back in their ready mix and stone production to concentrate on the paving and ‘outdoor rooms’. I’ve been told that there is a lot of material going across to the mainland and down south. This news certainly has to be welcomed. Any investment into any of the local businesses has to be welcomed.
“Acheson and Glover has been there a long time and has come through the downturn in the whole property market from 2008. Hopefully they are now out the other end.
Colleague Paul Robinson said the investment would be very welcome in securing jobs in the area.
“It’s good to see something like this coming to Fermanagh. The company seems to be thriving at the moment, exporting across the water. It’s keeping jobs going and that’s what we need here to help keep the country moving.” he said. The group’s Chief Financial Officer, Keith Scott says the investments are a response to the ‘strategic needs’ and ‘opportunities’ within the business.
“Recent significant increases in sales of our hard landscaping, building and structural precast products, especially in Britain, have driven the need to increase both efficiencies and capacity. The washing of aggregate from our Fivemiletown quarry will provide better consistency in terms of size and cleanliness which will lead to increased quality in our finished products and reduced manufacturing effort.
“These investments, coupled with extended overtime shifts at both Fivemiletown and Ballygawley will equip us to continue our growth trajectory whilst driving up capacity across the business.”
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