3 minute read
Houghton Int’l makes major investment in new facility
Electromechanical engineering specialist Houghton International has agreed a deal with Siemens Energy, which will see it take over the former blade manufacturing factory at the CA Parsons Works in Heaton.
The 120,000 sq ft engineering space will be used to consolidate five of the company’s operational sites, alongside its existing pump repair facility currently housed on the site, also creating significant room for further growth. The move represents a significant milestone for the company, which has experienced rapid growth over the past five years and will create a best in class facility from which to service its growing domestic and international customer base.
The company also intends to retain its existing large machine facility, located adjacent to the new workshop, to service an increased demand for larger repairs from around the UK, providing a total combined footprint of over 135,000 sq ft.
Houghton International is expanding to accommodate future growth by investing in a 120,000 sq ft site in Newcastle / Picture: Houghton International
The factory will be named The Ronnie Mitten Works after one of the company’s founders, Ron Mitten, who’s technical legacy still brings work into the business each day, well over a decade after he passed away in 2007.
Ron Mitten’s son, Michael Mitten, the current CEO of Houghton International, said: “I am truly delighted and equally honoured to be taking over such a prestigious site, and to be allowed to hoist my dad’s name above the door really is the cherry on the cake for me. I want to thank the team at Siemens Energy for having the confidence in us to take on the site and allowing us to name it after my dad. He’d be blown away by the notion that his name will be sat alongside that of Charles Parsons.
“I’m also delighted to be able to announce such an exciting phase in the company’s development, and some positive news for the North East. It’s a massive deal for us, one that cements our home for the next 25 years, and gives us one of the largest rotating electrical machine service centres in Western Europe.
“The expansion is a huge opportunity for Houghton International and is the result of many years of hard work to grow the business, our workforce and our customer base to get to this point. To do so at such a critical economic time means we’ll be perfect placed to take full advantage of the post-Covid economic boom that I’m certain will happen, especially in renewable energy and the shift towards the electrification of mass transportation.”
Houghton has experienced rapid growth over the past five years and the investment has also created a number of new jobs / Picture: Houghton International
Michael concluded: “The consolidation will improve efficiency across the business, offer greater opportunities for training and cross skilling staff, enable us to adapt to changing market conditions faster and further improve the service we offer to customers.”
The move into the new site is currently underway with the aim of having the whole business relocated by the end of the year. Alongside providing extra space for Covid-19 physical distancing, the additional capacity created by the move will also enable the company to create dedicated R&D and training facilities, further investing in its future.
Specialising in the monitoring, maintenance, repair and life extension of electromechanical assets around the world, Houghton International operates across a range of sectors including power generation, water, oil and gas, and rail.
Houghton International is currently recruiting for six roles, based from its new engineering facility in Heaton, including a technical account manager, sales administrators, marketing assistant and business development executive.