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US firm’s multi-million pound investment in Sunderland factory to create over 100 jobs

Lear Corporation is making a multi-million pound investment in its Sunderland factory, with the aim of creating over 100 jobs

US automotive firm Lear Corporation is making a multi-million pound investment to more than double the size of one of its Sunderland factories.

Lear is extending its plant on Sunderland City Council’s Rainton Bridge Industrial Estate by a further 3,500sq m to house additional production equipment and support growing UK automotive seating foam business.

The project has also received £500k funding from the Let’s Grow Regional Growth Fund.

The factory, which opened in 2011, was Lear’s first UK foam manufacturing facility for vehicle seating and combined with its neighbouring seat assembly plant, now employs 420 people.

The additional jobs are planned to be created over the next three years as the factory ramps up production to meet existing Nissan business and additional new business for Jaguar Landrover (JLR).

Gideon Jewel said: “Each time I visit this plant I’m impressed with the commitment, pace and results achieved. That was an important part of our decision to invest again in Sunderland for this extension.

“Another reason is the strong relationship we have built with our customers, suppliers, and particularly with Sunderland City Council, which has worked alongside us and helped make things happen for us since before we set up here.

“This announcement closely follows the recent agreement of Lear to acquire the world’s largest provider of leather for automotive interiors, ‘Eagle-Ottawa’. This along with the expansion of our foam manufacturing capability in Sunderland will further strengthen Lear’s position in automotive seating and support our vertical integration strategy and acceleration of growth.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .