Production boosted with expansion
Polyframe has launched its second major investment programme since becoming part of the Customade Group – this time to expand its 50,000ft2 site in Livingston and boost production of PVCU frames by more than 30%.
Polyframe Livingston has made a £750,000 investment into plant and new machinery to help it satisfy growing market demand and increase production on the site from 1,500 to 2,000 frames a week on a single shift basis.
Polyframe had also bought additional production space and new machinery at its Norwich site, which should see production increase from 4,500 to 7,000 frames a week.
115 people are currently employed on the Livingston site, with 75 staff working in the factory. The enhanced Livingston site will manufacture the complete range of Veka windows and doors.
The factory will be equipped with a number of new machines, including a Stuga ZX 5 sawing and machining centre – the first of its kind in the UK – a new eight-head welder, an SV800 corner cleaner, and a reverse butt cleaner. This will enable fabrication at Livingston to become fully automated, with the exception of handling and assembly.
Martin Linden, managing director of Polyframe Livingston, said: “This has been an outstanding year for us and we are very excited to be ramping up our production rates. This venture is particularly notable at a time when many PVCU fabricators are not investing and shrinking back on production. The atmosphere at Livingston is buzzing and we’re all ready to take the next step to reach 2,000 frames a week. Our longer-term goal is to achieve an impressive 4,000 frames a week.”
Dave Jones, Veka Group’s managing director, said: “Having customers who are committed to investment, as we are at Veka, is tremendous and will be of mutual benefit to both our businesses.”
www.polyframe.co.uk