McMullen Façades, part of the Lakesmere Group, has invested around £1m in new equipment to expand its manufacturing facility and increase capacity.
The company says a new pre-production and separate storage facility is already providing improvements in the flow and management of materials. This has also enabled a 50% increase in the assembly area at the main factory.
McMullen says investment in a new fabrication conveyor system, alongside the incorporation of lean manufacturing techniques, has also allowed the company to increase output, streamline production and significantly improve efficiency within its factory.
The ongoing investment programme means the current capacity in excess of 400 units per week is expected to grow to 600 units per week over the next 12 months, depending on the complexity of the unitised panels being produced.
The company has made the capital investments, as well as recruited almost 30 new staff members this year to date, to support the growing demand for complex, technically challenging façade projects, particularly high-rise residential contracts.
Ted McMullen, managing director of McMullen Facades, said: “This is a really exciting time for McMullen Façades and the Lakesmere Group as we continue to build upon our position as the only UK based company capable of simultaneously delivering several complex façade projects in excess of 40 storeys. Our recent investment in a number of high calibre staff and the implementation of LEAN production processes, alongside investment in cutting-edge technology and automation has positioned McMullen Façades at the forefront of our sector and as a strong rival for our European competitors”.
