New premises and jobs for Norbar
1 min read
Norbar Torque Tools has announced a move to a new 170,000 square feet production site, over three times larger than its existing factory. The move will allow for an expansion in manufacturing output arising from increased demand for the company's precision engineering products, 75% of which are exported.
The company is remaining in Banbury, Oxfordshire, where it has been established since its launch as the North Bar Tool Company in the 1940s.
Norbar said the expansion meant employment opportunities, creating up to 30 new jobs in Banbury this year, where it produces products for applying torque and also for measuring torque. Completion on the purchase of the new site took place on 20 March 2012.
Managing director Neill Brodey explained that Norbar is strongly committed to continuing to manufacture in the UK. "This is our fourth location within Banbury. Our last move was in 1984, which we managed over an Easter weekend! This time it will be a phased operation lasting until 2014, involving the relocation of large sophisticated machines and highly sensitive calibration equipment for our UKAS accredited torque laboratory."
Norbar plans to increase its current 240-strong workforce by up to 30 new employees this year and further recruitment is planned as the changeover gathers pace. In June 2012, a quarter of Norbar's workforce will move to the new factory in Wildmere Road, about 1.5 miles from its current premises, with torque wrench assembly being the first production team to relocate. This will create more space within the current factory for the installation of more machine tools.
Pictured: Members of the Norbar team celebrate news of relocation.
