Hundreds of manufacturing jobs heading to Newport

Four hundred and sixty manufacturing jobs will be created at Newport, where one of Ireland’s leading companies has purchased the former LG Philips building from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Quinn Group is making a £133 million investment to consolidate and expand its domestic radiator manufacturing operations.

Quinn Radiators, a division of the Quinn Group, is already one of Europe’s leading producer of domestic radiators and has ambitious plans for further growth. Along with its operations currently based in Belgium, Lancashire and Ireland, the Group is investing in a new state of the art facility in Newport, where it will expand the 700,000 sq. ft. building to approximately one million sq. ft. to cope with growing demand.

The Quinn Group, which also has operations in the UK in the areas of commercial and business insurance, glass, plastics and hotels, employs over 5,500 people in Ireland, UK and Europe, and has been in business for over 30 years. It is seen as one of the most enduring success stories in Irish business. The Quinn Group had sales in 2004 in excess of £700million.

The trigger for Quinn Radiators’ latest expansion was the acquisition last year of Irish-based radiator manufacturer Barlo Group plc. The company identified the potential of the radiator industry and view the Newport site, where they will manufacture compact radiators, as vital to securing growth in the business.

Councillor Erryl Heath, cabinet member for development and employment, said:

“This is exciting news for Newport and I am delighted to see hundreds of new manufacturing jobs coming to our city. It is particularly pleasing to see that the Quinn Group looked at sites across Europe before selecting Newport.

“Newport has developed into a fast moving, enterprising city and it is important that while we have an excellent record in attracting jobs in the financial and business sectors the city also maintains a strong manufacturing industry.

“The city council welcomes the Quinn Group to Newport and looks forward to developing a strong and productive relationship.”

The company studied several options across Europe before selecting the Newport building after negotiations with the Assembly Government and the Welsh Development Agency.

Quinn Radiators is part of the Quinn Group, which has operations in the UK in the areas of insurance, glass, radiators, plastics and hotels. The Quinn Group is one of Ireland’s leading companies and had sales in 2004 in excess of £700million.

Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport, said, "We have been working closely with the Quinn Group for the past 12 months to secure this project for Wales. I am therefore delighted that together with our Team Wales partners, we have been able to help the company choose a Welsh location for this strategic investment, instead of competing sites elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

"The scale of the Group’s plans for the expansion of the building demonstrates how important this new manufacturing operation will be to the Group’s future growth. Many of the jobs created at the plant will be related to headquarter operations and Research & Development activities, and are therefore of high quality and value in terms of contributing to the continued development of Wales as a knowledge economy.

"I am especially pleased that our Regional Selective Assistance programme has played a major part in the decision to establish what will be a world class facility in Wales. Not only will the Quinn plant be the largest domestic radiator plant in the world, but the site will also host the company's European HQ operation for the Division.

"This investment will be a major boost to the economy of South East Wales, creating a high number of quality manufacturing jobs and benefiting local companies in the supply chain, not least the steel industry in South Wales."

The Group is currently completing construction of a new £250million glass container manufacturing facility at Ince in Cheshire, which will employ over 400 people.

The Group also has additional interests in the UK including hotels in Cambridge and Nottingham and has recently completed the purchase of the prestigious DeVere Belfry Golf Club and Hotel outside of Birmingham.

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