Scores of new jobs are set to be created on Wearside as part of major expansion for Griffith Textile Machines.
The machine manufacturer and weaving company has sealed a 15-year deal to move to Washington’s Pattinson Industrial Estate, through Newcastle industrial property agents HTA Real Estate.
The letting will see the expansion of Griffith Textile Machines, part of the Ulster Carpets Group, which makes textile machines and weaves carpets.
The property, on Alston Road, will be the home of the newly-renamed Ulster North East, the weaving operation of the company, which is currently undergoing a significant expansion.
The detached warehouse will be an additional premises for the company which already operates from a nearby unit on the estate’s Walton Road.
The 46-strong weaving team, which operates advanced carpet weaving looms, is expected to double in the new factory over a period of four to five years.
Five looms are currently being relocated to the new premises, which is only a mile from the Nissan plant, while a further six are being manufactured for installation over the next two years.
Dave Watson, managing director at Griffith Textile Machines added: “The new premises at Alston Road represents the culmination of three years’ engineering development, which will position the newly branded Ulster North East weaving business as the premier weaving operation in the UK, and differentiate it from our engineering arm.
“This has been made possible, not only by the team at HTA Real Estate, but also by our amazing engineering development team and the flexibility of our highly motivated weaving staff.”
Simon Hill, director at HTA Real Estate said: “It’s fantastic to see a growing operation such as Griffith Textile Machines bringing additional employment and investment to the North East region. These premises will give the firm the functionality it needs right now but also help to enable its ambitions for growth over the next 15 years.”
