Member Article

Stadium Group names Hartlepool plant as European Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

Stadium Group, a supplier of wireless solutions, power supplies and electronics assemblies, has today announced its Hartlepool facility as the primary European Manufacturing Centre of Excellence within its worldwide operations, helping to safeguard 100 jobs.

Following the successful upgrade and relocation in 2015 of the Far East facility in South China, established as the group’s manufacturing centre of excellence in the Asia region, the company is now reviewing the consolidation of the European manufacturing footprint from four separate locations into two main manufacturing centres of excellence in the UK at Hartlepool and Southampton.

The 6,000m² site already has plans for a £250,000 key investment for this year to further enhance Quality and Delivery for customers through improved Advanced Technology, Lean Techniques, Specialised Supply Chain Initiatives and further up-skilling of the current workforce in the leading electronics IPC 610 and J Standard Training.

Hartlepool has been subject to major investment, new business wins and leadership recruitment in the past 12 months and the Centre of Excellence strategy will safeguard over 100 jobs and bring £1 million worth of hi-tech equipment and a significant amount of new business to the factory.

In support of the strategy to develop a manufacturing centre of excellence at Hartlepool, the group registered head office will relocate to the company’s Reading site, allowing Hartlepool to focus entirely on its core competences in design, manufacturing and fulfilment.

In addition a new Regional Design Centre (RDC) opens today in Sweden, adding to the existing RDCs in Norwich, Southampton and Shanghai.

Charlie Peppiatt, CEO said: “One of our strategic objectives, as outlined in the recently announced 2015 financial results, is to continue to develop the operating model to deliver the Group’s customer focused, design-led technology proposition supported by strategically located design centres, manufacturing centres of excellence and regional fulfilment centres.”

He added: “This news about our Hartlepool site is another step forward on delivering this strategy.”

Chris Short, UK Operations Director said, “Today’s announcement is very exciting for our Hartlepool plant. If successful, the site will lead our European manufacturing operations and offer a bright future for the site and its workforce.

“We are fully committed to ensuring that we have world class facilities through investment in hi-tech equipment and experienced electronics industry leadership, and Hartlepool remains a key component to our business model and growth strategy.”