Member Article

Northumberland manufacturer looks to keep pace on international stage with tech investment

Northumberland manufacturing firm Aavid Thermacore has invested in bringing new industrial technology to its North East HQ, as the firm strives to maintain its global order book.

Exporting to countries across Europe, Asia and Australasia, more than 75% of the Ashington company’s business is international.

Specialising in the design and manufacture of thermal management solutions, the firm works across a variety of industries including aerospace, medical, military, telecommunications, chemical processing and transportation.

Acquiring a new Mazak 530 vertical CNC milling machine, the employer of 75 staff can now increase its output capacity and build on its levels of performance reliability.

Jim Robson, Aavid Thermacore’s vice president, operations, said: “This is the first technology investment we’ve made this year but I don’t expect it to be the last.

“We’ve seen an increase in demand for our products not only by volume from new and returning customers but also in the complexity and diversity of their requirements.

“Our ability to innovate coupled with the financial strength to invest has established our Ashington facilities at the centre of the global industry.”

Last year, Aavid Thermacore exported to more than 20 countries worldwide, working with a multitude of techn-driven businesses, universities and research institutions.

Jim added: “On the back of work we’re doing with the European Space Agency, we’ve recently transferred production of our k-Core composite material, which has five times the thermal conductivity of a standard aluminium heat spreader, to Ashington in order to bring the product closer to its market.”