Wales beats Poland for £16m investment and 125 jobs

Doncasters said it had evaluated the option of locating the new capability in Poland before opting for Blaenavon, adding that the investment will enable it to undertake post cast processing work in Wales that was previously sub-contracted to a specialist supplier. The project will be supported by Welsh Assembly Government grant aid. The construction of purpose-built premises to house the new operations will begin in May. Doncasters chief executive Eric Lewis said the company had facilities around the world but was particularly proud of its South Wales facility at Blaenavon, which had become the group's forging centre of excellence. “We are extremely grateful for the encouragement and support we have received from the Assembly Government, which has contributed significantly to the site’s success,” he added. This new project is in addition to a previous investment of £4 million for the development of the company’s engine ready components strategy. Doncasters currently employs 340 people in South Wales and serves the needs of many of the world's leading gas turbine engine makers. Deputy First Minister, Leuan Wyn Jones (pictured), said: "This is the latest of a series of investments by Doncasters that have seen Blaenavon become a key site within a world-leading, international engineering company. The continued development of the plant, with the full support of the Assembly Government, has made it not only an important local employer but also a flagship for the engineering sector in Wales as a whole." Doncasters, which can trace its history back to 1778, now employs some 7,100 people across the USA, Europe, China and Mexico and has annual gross sales worth £900 million. The Group is a world leader in the manufacture of components for the civil and military aero engine and industrial gas turbine markets. Its client lists include leading OEMs such as Rolls-Royce, Pratt and Whitney, GE, Snecma, Siemens and Alstom.