Member Article

Wakefield Acoustics marks expansion with new facility

Wakefield Acoustics, a leader in the design, manufacture and installation of industrial and environmental noise control solutions, is pleased to announce it has substantially expanded its manufacturing operations by moving into a new modern 40,000sq ft factory in Heckmondwike.

Following continued growth of the business along with recent expansion of the company’s product range, the new facility, based on Flush Mills, Westgate, presents the business with a significant increase of capacity, along with expanded capabilities, facilities and resources to cater for the increasing demand for the company’s products and services.

Over recent years the business has continued to grow by both developing its product range to become a leading supplier of engineered acoustic systems for a variety of high specification applications worldwide, as well as seeing an increase for the company’s more established noise control products within the UK.

The business has recently announced a healthy 50% increase in turnover since 2012, with plans in place to double their turnover by 2018. Activity increased in a number of core markets, with orders growing across the board, while continued progress was made in emerging markets such as the oil and gas sector.

Employee numbers also continued to rise with Wakefield Acoustics now employing 40 staff members, up from 25 in 2012. Five new manufacturing staff have been recruited in recent months, as part of the move to their new facility, and the company are still recruiting as part of their growth plans.

In December 2014, following continued expansion; the company was successful in securing substantial investment from leading private equity firm Yorkshire Fund Managers (YFM) as part of a management buyout of the business led by Lee Nicholson, managing director.

With a strong growth plan going forward the company has invested heavily across all areas of the business within the last few years; and the new larger modern manufacturing facility affords the business significant opportunity to continue to expand and develop its manufacturing and engineering operations.

Working over many years, with many of the world’s leading blue chip companies, Wakefield Acoustics has experience across sectors such as oil and gas, petro-chemical, power generation, water and waste, recycling and general industry and infrastructure.

Lee Nicholson, managing director at Wakefield Acoustics, said, “We are absolutely delighted with our new facility which represents a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth and development. Our new factory, capacity and resource capabilities will allow us to continue to design and manufacture high quality noise control products and services worldwide. We are very pleased that we have been able to expand our business locally and create new local jobs as part of the move.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gillian Crook .