Car parts firm building on success to create 70 jobs
A car parts firm is to create more than 70 jobs with the opening of a new sister plant.
FM Coatings is branching out from its home in Boldon Colliery into 23,000 sq ft premises at Seaham Grange Industrial Estate after seeing its turnover triple since it was established in 2007.
The business employs 90 staff in Boldon – but with no scope to increase capacity on site, it sought out extra premises.
The company paints plastic automotive components, using a wet spray system, and is a tier two supplier to a number of car manufacturers including Nissan, JLR and Ford.
Part of its expansion has come from an increasing demand for exterior-painted car parts in modern cars, and the majority of new jobs, up to 75 by 2020, are likely to be for operators of the hi-tech machinery.
The firm has begun installation of a bespoke, technically-advanced automated paint plant at Seaham, capable of achieving the required quality standards for exterior automotive components. Director Mick Ford said: “There were a number of reasons for choosing the factory in Seaham, including the excellent support we received from Durham County Council.
“The new fully-automated paint plant in our Seaham factory will allow us to expand further into the exterior component market, where we have seen considerable growth over the last 12 months.
“We expect the majority of new employees to come from the immediate local area and look forward to recruitment starting later this year.”