Hutchinson Engineering buoyant about future

The family run company grew steadily throughout the recession, even diversifying into the aeropsace sector in 2013.

This new investment sees a larger, 60,000 sq ft, manufacturing site in Kilrea with two new lasers.

Opening the company’s new site in Kilrea, Hutchinson Engineering’s managing director, Mark Hutchinson said: “Since 1998 Hutchinson Engineering has invested in the latest cutting edge technologies and R&D to ensure that our service meets the needs of our customers across many diverse sectors, including; transport, oil, gas, aerospace, materials handling, medical, agricultural and recycling sectors.

“This new captial investment of over £3.2 million is another building block in the company’s growth, and with over 40 years experience working with clients who demand quality and precision engineered components, it was imperative that we undertook this expansion.

“This will help to underpin our competitive position in this sector and achieve the aim of substantially increasing sales to global customers over the next three years.”

Damian McAuley, Invest NI’s Director of Advanced Engineering and Construction said: “Hutchinson Engineering is working in partnership with Invest NI and has benefited from a range of assistance to develop its facilities and ensure it has the skills and manufacturing processes in place to be competitive in its target market.

“The engineering sector accounts for a large proportion of manufactured exports from Northern Ireland.

“This investment by Hutchinson Engineering signals its continued commitment to Northern Ireland and to building on its international success.”

Earlier this year Derek Twigg, the Labour MP for Halton, visited Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes to tour the company’s new £5 million factory.

The business, which opened its state of the art premises last year, is the only UK manufacturer of mid-wind turbine towers.

It has also designed and manufactured structures for the telecommunications industry for more than fifteen years and prides itself on its innovative and aesthetically pleasing designs. Its radio equipment is housed within very slim structures, and in a range of sizes and colours to fit into any landscape.

The company, which already employs 93 people and three apprentices, is looking to take on more. When the new 4,500sq m factory was opened last summer 25 new jobs were created.

During his visit the MP toured the factory with business development director Neal Scrivener, and commercial director Steve Adams. Formed in 1971, SJC Hutchinson Engineering was crowned Manufacturer of the Year of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awards 2014 and Mark Hutchinson, managing director, was a finalist in Ireland’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year, 2014 and Belfast T elegraph’s Young Businessperson of the Year 2014.