Northampton-based Igus (www.igus.co.uk), a high-tech manufacturing company, has formally opened its newly expanded facility, which has grown from 672m² to 1,000m² through the creation of an upper floor, freeing up ground-floor space for the engineering team.

The company, which employs 110 people, specialises in the production of advanced plastic components, including bearings and chains.

The expansion not only creates more space for current engineering projects but will also allow the company to add significantly to its workforce in the future. It comes just a year after the company celebrated its 25th anniversary in the UK.

Managing director Matthew Aldridge said: “By listening closely to the needs of our customers throughout the UK, we have continuously developed the range of products and services we offer, and this has led to successive years of double-digit growth in our turnover.

“As UK industries embrace ever more-efficient manufacturing methods, we have seen particularly strong demand for ready-assembled packages that can be quickly and cost-effectively deployed on-site.

“As a result, we reached the limit of our available space; rather than moving to new premises, we opted to expand, which gives everybody more space in which to work. If business levels continue to grow at their current rate, we will need to recruit more people, which this new open work-space will enable us to do.”

Igus’ open-plan workspace is designed to encourage employee engagement, collaboration and the sharing of ideas. The company runs a number of initiatives to support young engineers, including an apprenticeship programme and providing products to students and researchers working on a wide range of projects.