Partner Article

Hydraulics firm powers up for expansion

A North East company is bucking the national trend and expanding, thanks to support from One North East.

DR Hydraulics and Engineering Ltd, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, is embarking on a £70,000 project that will see it take over an adjacent unit, purchase new equipment and create four full time jobs and one part time role at its base on Swan Industrial Estate.

It represents a major expansion for the company, which was set up in 2005 by Managing Director Mark Dunville and Director of Engineering, Dan Robson.

One North East awarded a Grant for Business Investment of £22,500 to the company, which manufactures and repairs hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders as well as carrying out precision engineering contracts.

Ian Williams, One North East Director of Business and Industry, said: “I’m pleased this project will help DR Hydraulics continue to develop its Washington operation and open up the opportunity to bid for larger, high value contracts.

“The potential market for hydraulic repair and fabrication is huge, given that most manufacturers use some form of hydraulic machinery and I hope that this investment from One North East helps establish DR’s credentials as a genuine regional success story.”

The project will see DR Hydraulics take on a welder, three machinists and a part time administrator.

Mr Dunville said: “We are keen to grow the business but want to keep it at a level where we can maintain a hands on role. By expanding the company in this way and buying new machinery we will be able to take on larger pieces of work and increase our customer base.

“The business is still relatively new, but we have established a good reputation for delivery in a short space of time and this expansion will help us cement our status within the hydraulics industry.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .