West Yorkshire-based Aflex Hose, a leading manufacturer of hoses for the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, has begun work on a new factory designed to accommodate its bespoke processes and consolidate the operations of its five existing factories on one site.

The new 17,000m² facility will include investments in new extrusion lines and processing equipment that boost the company’s capacity by 70%.

Construction should be completed by the end of 2019, with machinery installation starting early in 2020 and manufacturing starting in the second quarter of that year.

All the existing sites are expected to stay open throughout 2020.

The company hopes to employ 500 people at the new factory by 2028.

Managing director Jeremy Hudson (www.aflex-hose.com) said: “At a time when doubt and concerns abound over Brexit, with all the negative stories about manufacturing job losses and economic doom and gloom, I am proud and excited that Aflex and the Watson-Marlow Group are investing in a scheme that will bring jobs and prosperity to Kirklees for many years to come.”