Jobs boost for Deeside Enterprise Zone as Electroimpact UK plans expansion

Electroimpact UK is investing £2.8m to expand its facilities and operations on Deeside Enterprise Zone in a move that will create 37 high calibre jobs with support from the Welsh Government.

Electroimpact UK specialises in the design, manufacture, maintenance and repair of automated assembly equipment and tooling for the aerospace industry.

The investment in a large new high bay assembly facility at Electroimpact’s Technology Park in Hawarden will enable the company to diversify into the manufacture of components for these systems and their installation. It will also provide the capability to handle larger and more complex projects.

The investment was secured for Wales with £282,000 business finance from the Welsh Government and will cement its position as the European/Asian regional head office. The expansion could have gone ahead at Electroimpact’s main campus and head office in Mukilteo, Washington, or at its facilities in China or Brazil

Welcoming the news Economy Secretary Ken Skates said:

“In the last seven years Electroimpact UK has grown from just 27 employees to 140 and I am delighted the Welsh Government is supporting this latest development that marks a new chapter in expanding its capacity and capability.

“The company operates in one of our key economic sectors and this is another important investment for Deeside Enterprise Zone that supports the future growth of the facility and will create high calibre jobs.

“Securing this project for Wales also provides a significant boost for the supply chain of 94 local companies which ensures the investment has a considerable impact on the wider economy.”

Electroimpact, a world leader in the design and manufacturing of aerospace tooling and automation, was founded by Peter Zieve in the USA in 1986 with the facility in Wales established in 2000.

It is now one of the largest integrator of aircraft assembly lines in the world with a customer base that includes Airbus, Boeing, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Fuji Heavy Industries, Spirit Aerospace, Vought, Northrop-Grumman, Israeli Aircraft Industries, Xi’an Aircraft of China, Bombardier, and Embraer among others.

The rapid and prolonged increase in the global aerospace market has seen demand for aerospace automation and tooling increase significantly with growing interest from the US space rocket and military sectors over recent years with contracts awarded from NASA.

The news of the expansion and new jobs comes as a welcome boost to the Enterprise Zone after two pharmaceutical companies announced jobs losses recently.

On Monday ConvaTec, which employs 500 people at its Deeside manufacturing plant makes wound dressings and colostomy bags, has announced plans to make 93 full-time positions redundant due to restructuring.

In October Quantum Pharma has said it plans to close its loss-making NuPharm business in Deeside with the loss of around 66 jobs.