Ross Companies: Ballymena-based engineering manufacturer creating 25 new jobs with £3.6m expansion investment
Around 25 new jobs are being created as part of a £3.6million expansion plan by a Ballymena-based engineering manufacturer.
The investment by Ross Companies will support its growth in markets across Great Britain and Ireland. Invest Northern Ireland has offered £125,000 towards the creation of the new roles which will see the workforce increase from 29 to 54 people over the next three years.
Established in 2017, Ross Companies designs, manufactures, installs, finishes and maintains industrial equipment for customers across a range of sectors including quarrying and aggregates, cement and concrete, food and drink production, animal feeds, waste, recycling and energy, and wider industrial manufacturing.
The £3.6m outlay will increase manufacturing capacity, bring additional processes in-house and support the development of the company's industrial filtration product range. It includes investment in the company's recently acquired and refurbished premises near Ahoghill, as well as the recruitment of engineering, manufacturing and management personnel.
William Ross, managing director at Ross Companies, said: “This investment reflects the confidence we have in the future growth of our business. Over the last few years, we have transformed from a small maintenance-focused operation into a multi-disciplinary engineering manufacturer serving customers across several sectors.
“Demand for our industrial filtration and engineered solutions continues to grow as businesses seek to improve efficiency and meet increasingly stringent environmental requirements.
"This investment will enhance our capabilities, increase capacity and support our expansion into Great Britain and Ireland, creating high-quality jobs in the local area. Invest NI's continued support has helped us build the foundations for this next phase of sustainable growth.”
Previous Invest NI support, through the Ambition to Grow and Grow Beyond programmes helped Ross Companies expand employment and increase turnover. Since 2019, turnover has increased from £345,000 to approximately £3.78 million, and it now expects turnover to exceed £5 million over the next two years.
Iain Joannides, head of regional business, Eastern Region, Invest NI, said: “Ross Companies is an example of the ambition and innovation we see among our Eastern Region client base. Since first engaging with our Eastern Regional team, the company has consistently demonstrated its ability to identify growth opportunities, invest strategically and deliver strong results.
“Building on previous Invest NI support, this investment will help Ross Companies strengthen its manufacturing capability, increase productivity and expand its presence in external markets.”