Takao, a Japanese company that manufactures automotive components, is set to virtually double the size of its Welsh plant and create more than 80 new jobs in a 12 million pound investment. The expansion by Takao, which has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government with Regional Selective Assistance, comes just months after the company opened a facility on Ebbw Vale’s Rassau Industrial Estate.
“The automotive industry is a key sector in Wales generating more than 3 billion pounds annually and providing high quality jobs,” said Brian Gibbons, minister for the economy and transport for Wales. “This expansion by Takao, following so quickly after their initial investment, is a clear vote of confidence in Wales as a key location for business. It will create a substantial number of new jobs and bring added value to the local economy as Takao has a policy of sourcing goods and services locally whenever possible.”
Takao Wales Division (TWD) acquired the former Yajima factory in Ebbw Vale last year and began recruiting in January with the intention of creating 96 jobs within three years. It already employs 62 people on site.
The company has secured substantial future business from a number of Japanese car manufacturers and the expansion will help it meet those commitments. The new facility will specialize in the manufacture of medium category stamping and weld assembly to service orders from an automotive assembly plant in France.
It is now expanding its existing 5,400 square meter facility by building an adjacent 4,000 square meter facility that will house 1,000-, 800- and 300-ton transfer presses to increase production capacity.
Takao had investigated a number of potential sites for this latest investment but International Business Wales worked closely with Takao in Wales and Japan to press the business case for expanding in Wales.
Nick Thomas, commercial director for Takao in Wales, said the company's initial investment in Wales has proven extremely successful and the support from the Assembly Government was pivotal in securing this latest expansion.
“We have been able to attract first class staff with the relevant skills needed to ensure we can meet the quality standards expected by our customers and look forward to this next phase of our expansion in Wales,” said Thomas.
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