Dungannon-based Mallaghan Engineering Ltd, an advanced manufacturing firm, is embarking on a multi-million-pound expansion that will result in the recruitment of over 200 new people.

The plan includes significant new product development, underpinning the need for capital investment in factory capacity and ‘state of the art’ manufacturing equipment.

Mallaghan (www.mallaghanse.com) will also implement an extensive training programme to develop the skills of its workforce.

Alastair Hamilton, Invest Northern Ireland chief executive, said: “Mallaghan Engineering is investing in production capabilities, R&D, skills and jobs in a significant expansion of its Dungannon headquarters.

“Commercial air travel is a vast and growing industry. The productivity-boosting capital equipment and extensions to Mallaghan’s factory space will help the company to satisfy the growing demand for ground support equipment world-wide.”

Mallaghan Engineering designs and manufactures ground support equipment for the global aviation industry, primarily to service commercial aircraft.

Its principal products are high-lift trucks for catering, cabin cleaning and facilitating restricted-movement passengers, as well as de-icing rigs, water and waste trucks, baggage conveyors and various forms of passenger stairs.

The company is currently developing an airport apron bus as part of its R&D investment, and it expects to add this new product to its portfolio by the end of 2018.

It has been offered over £3 million of Invest NI support towards its R&D, capital and skills investments. This offer will leverage the creation of a range of additional jobs at the business, mainly in engineering and manufacturing
positions.