Bradford-based Flexiform (
www.flexiform.co.uk), a manufacturer of high-quality office furniture, is to spend £3 million upgrading its Thornbury manufacturing facility.
Over the last decade, the company has seen its turnover reach £29 million, but running at full capacity 24/7 has restricted its growth.
Alongside office furniture, it has a sister brand —Asgard Secure Steel Storage — designing and manufacturing high-security metal sheds.
With the help of the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, managing director Nick Hewitt carried out a mapping exercise that identified all the site constraints and bottlenecks.
The company has invested in a new Bystronic laser cutter and a Salvagnini panel bender; the intention is to increase its production capacity by 40% in the next three to four years — with an additional surge capacity of 20% — without increasing the site footprint.
Mr Hewitt said: “Investing in up-to-date technology and reconfiguring our current space will help Flexiform and Asgard to grow considerably, while staying in West Yorkshire.
“The business will embrace the latest production technology to deliver a lean, modern and highly productive facility.”