Martin Aerospace taking off with investment drive

Deputy Business Editor

Monday 22 October 2012

AN engineering firm is investing in new machinery and creating 11 jobs after receiving £100,000 from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE).

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Martin Aerospace, which already employs 65 people at its base in Lanark, makes components for aircraft engines for customers such as Rolls Royce and is benefiting from growth in the commercial aerospace industry. It has recently won a number of long-term agreements with major aerospace companies and has an order book standing at about £8 million.

Along with the UKSE funding, Martin Aerospace, created out of GT Martin & Sons Engineering in 2005, is putting in a further six-figure investment into its equipment.Chairman Neil MacDonald said: "We are seeing this demand from the aerospace industry and gearing up to meet it. "We are increasing manufacturing capacity and quality-assurance procedures within the plant. There will be a substantial investment in machinery which goes way beyond the £100,000 from UKSE."We have visibility several years into the future and provided we perform as we should do, we will get our share of that business."Mr MacDonald said focusing on quality was what helped differentiate the business from its competitors.He said: "I always say to our people to imagine that it was their family going on holiday on a plane. The safety of that plane depends on the quality of the parts we produce."The business is taking on four apprentices this year, up from two the previous year.UKSE, the Tata Steel subsidiary set up to help companies in former steel-producing areas, is an equity shareholder in Martin Aerospace.Anne Clyde, area manager of UKSE, said: "There is a very low labour turnover and a strong drive to promote staff internally – the current head of production control actually started with the company as an apprentice 10 years ago – and that's exactly the type of business we are dedicated to supporting."William Martin, managing director of Martin Aerospace, added: "The current boom offers a perfect opportunity for Martin Aerospace to grow and offer its specialist expertise further across the sector and the continued support from UK Steel Enterprise is allowing us to build on our existing resources to realise this growth."

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Martin Aerospace taking off with investment drive

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