Newton Aycliffe-based Finley Structures, a supplier of structural steelwork to the construction industry, has invested more than £500,000 in a new Voortman ‘state of the art’ plasma cutting system to increase its capacity and efficiencies.

The family-run business, which is experiencing strong demand for its services, has also invested in a new 7,500ft2 building to accommodate the machine.

Within months of being installed, the Voortman machine has already improved efficiencies by more than 10% and this is expected to increase further.

Production controller Philip Metcalfe said: “Our fittings department previously consisted of four men using four machines to produce 17.5 tonnes per week — now it is two men using two machines to produce 20 tonnes.

“The extra labour created as a result will be used in other areas of the factory, meaning that we have increased our overall output and can potentially provide fittings to other local fabricators.”

Finley Structures has recently been working on a 640-tonne project for main contractor Galliford Try at Durham University’s Maiden Castle sports facility.

This was its second major project from Galliford Try; it is also working on a 930-tonne contract at the CTAR Building in Leeds.

The company also won three contracts from national firm BAM Construction towards the end of 2018.

It was formed by John Finley in 2000 and counts many of the UK’s main contractors in the construction business among its customers, including Sir Robert McAlpine, BAM, Tolent, Interserve, Bowmer & Kirkland and Galliford Try.

It has worked on projects all over the UK, while also helping to construct some of the most high-profile buildings in the North East, including Hitachi Rail Europe’s train-assembling factory in Newton Aycliffe, Nissan’s car plant in Washington, and Teesside University’s award-winning Curve building in Middlesbrough.