Leading contamination control manufacturing company Contec Cleanroom (UK) Ltd (“Contec UK”), have expanded their operation and are building a new purpose-built facility on Ashwood Business Park in Ashington.

Contec UK’s main trading activity is the manufacture and distribution of contamination control products for use in manufacturing clean rooms and healthcare environments. The company continues to expand is business in Europe and the United Kingdom and is investing for future growth.

Contec UK currently occupy a 22,000 sqft unit at Wansbeck Business Park where they first began the Ashington facility production with seven staff in 2015. Their Ashington facilities focus on the manufacture of sterile and non-sterile biocides that are mainly used in the life science and pharmaceutical industry.  Approximately 80% of the goods made in Ashington are exported to a distribution centre in France for global sale.

The team at Advance Northumberland, with support from the Department of International Trade under its Northern Powerhouse Key Account Management programme, have worked closely with Contec to facilitate their business growth and expansion plans within Northumberland.Contec UK’s new premises will be a c 60,000 sqft advanced manufacturing and office facility at Ashwood Business Park, offering practical layouts, larger floorplans, storage and parking. Work on the new facility has already begun and the construction expected to take 12-18 months. The company expects that the new facility will create new job opportunities and increase their headcount.

Contec Inc is a privately owned American company that was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It has just under 1,000 employees It has manufacturing facilities in Spartanburg, Ashington and Suzhou, China and distribution centres in Spartanburg, Ohio, USA and Vannes, France.

Jeff Watson, Chair of Advance Northumberland said, “We’re delighted that Contec has committed to building new amenities at Ashwood Business Park – and it’s fantastic to be welcoming a company of their calibre and sector to the site. Ashwood Business Park is a place where businesses can develop and expand, and we have seen from the success of AkzoNobel and Bernicia Homes how companies can thrive at this prime location.”

Ashwood Business Park is also set to benefit from the £4m investment from major international forecourt operator Euro Garages. The company will complete the build on their circa 8,000 sq. ft development on the site in October, which will include a petrol filling station, convenience store, and drive-through Starbucks outlet. Infrastructure works started this month, a new access road will be created off the Ashwood Drive roundabout, with the petrol station and shop located on the northern section of the site with the coffee shop towards the southern boundary.

The 62-acre Ashwood Business Park is owned by Advance Northumberland and is at the heart of one of the North East’s strongest manufacturing clusters. It is a North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Enterprise Zone, meaning that organisations locating there can benefit from 100% Enhanced Capital Allowances. The planned investment from Euro Garages and Contec marks another step forward in the development of Ashwood Business Park. Last year, Advance Northumberland and Northumberland County Council secured. £2.7 million from the North East LEP for infrastructure improvements to encourage further inward investment and growth projects at the site.