Domino Printing Sciences has moved its fluids manufacturing to a new 172,000 sq ft (16,000 sq m) state-of-the-art factory on the Senate Business Park, enabling a significant increase in productivity and capacity, as well as reduced lead times through investment in leading-edge production processes.
The expansion will also result in the creation of 19 new jobs over the next nine months, bringing the total workforce to 88.
Nigel Bond, Domino CEO said: “This new facility, located less than a mile from our previous factory, will accommodate the expansion of our fluids manufacturing capacity in line with growing demand, including a wider range of products and greater volumes. Not only will this meet our customers’ rapidly changing requirements, but also enable them to be even more responsive and competitive within their own marketplaces.
“Very importantly, this significant global investment underlines our ongoing commitment to a presence in Liverpool, continuing as the epicentre of our fluids business as it has for the last 35 years.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was carried out by Domino employees Martin Hiddleston, Christine Linden and Dave McMahon, followed by site tours.
The new facility is five times larger than the previous factory and is arranged on three floors. It includes the manufacturing area, Quality Assurance labs, dedicated customer training and seminar facilities, administration offices and conference facilities, as well as ten-metre high warehousing space. From here products are shipped directly to major customers, sales channels and more than 200 distributors worldwide.
State-of-the-art technology with in-line mixing capability and innovative materials handling processes, automated filling lines and robotic automated handling and palletisation systems will increase productivity and capacity, enabling faster lead-times.
Dave Jenkinson, Fluid Operations Director said: “This is an important milestone for Domino and everyone who has worked so hard to bring this new facility to fruition. Two years ago we held a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction and here we are today, seeing a state-of-the-art factory that is fully operational.”
In welcoming the guests, Nigel Bond, Domino CEO said: “I’m delighted to be here this morning to open our new production facility which is a further major investment for our company, following on from the recent opening of a new factory in Shanghai serving the local market in China and the expansion of our HQ buildings in Cambridge. These collective investments demonstrate our confidence in the business, the robustness of the markets we serve and our ambition to grow our market share and provide our customers with the highest service levels possible.”
Sustainability credentials for the new facility include photovoltaic cells on the roof to generate power from solar sources, and drainage of all rainwater and surface water into attenuation ponds on site for natural drainage or evaporation.
Domino recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special event to recognise staff contributions to its success, held at its Cambridge headquarters. Staff in Liverpool will hold their own celebratory event with a Family Day in August.