The Chief Executive and members of the Board of Aggreko plc have formally marked the start of work on the company’s new £20 million manufacturing facility at Lomondgate, Dumbarton.
CEO Rupert Soames was joined at the site by John McFall,
Chairman of the Strathleven Regeneration Company, for a
ground-breaking ceremony at what will become a 170,000 sq ft
factory.
The plant is expected to create 110 new jobs and safeguard a
further 120 in the Dumbarton area. It will design, develop and
manufacture power generators and temperature control equipment to
be deployed by Aggreko around the world.
Aggreko bought the 16-acre site from SRC earlier this year to
replace existing facilities which are spread around the West of
Scotland. The site forms part of the 120-acre former J & B
whisky plant which is being redeveloped as Lomondgate, a mixed-use
project which will also deliver 300 new homes, a new business park,
hotel and visitor facilities. BBC Scotland's River City
studios already occupy what remains of the J&B whisky bottling
plant which once stood on the site
Lomondgate is regarded as a world class site, minutes from the
motorway network, Glasgow Airport and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs
National Park.
SRC Chairman and former West Dunbartonshire MP John McFall, who
was recently elevated to the House of Lords, said: "It is
great news for the local area and its economy that a global
business such as Aggreko has chosen to expand its manufacturing
operation at Dumbarton. Strathleven Regeneration Company is
delighted to have played a part in securing this investment at
Lomondgate - a result which was made possible through partnerships
with, and the support of, West Dunbartonshire Council, Diageo,
Scottish Enterprise and the Walker Group"
Rupert Soames added: "This new facility is a vital project
for Aggreko, enabling us to meet our future manufacturing expansion
needs over the next 20 years.
"We expect building to start later this year with the aim of
having the plant in operation in 2012. Our roots are in Dumbarton
and it means a great deal to us to be able to remain where we have
built up a world-leading design, engineering and manufacturing
skill base."
The Aggreko Board also visited the company's existing hire and
manufacturing plants on the Broadmeadow Industrial Estate,
Dumbarton, where they were briefed on several initiatives to
improve the effectiveness of their operations, eliminate waste and
improve product quality.
Aggreko has grown into one of Scotland's most successful
companies, recently posting record pre-tax profits of £245m for
2009, compared with £191.6m the year before. It is currently
supplying the power to all the stadiums and broadcasting facilities
at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.