Factory plans set to bring 200 jobs to ‘economic powerhouse’
A YORKSHIRE manufacturing company will create up to 200 jobs when it opens its biggest manufacturing plant in Bradford.
Airedale by Modine has purchased a huge site off Tong Street, and plans to have its new manufacturing centre operational by the end of the year.
The announcement has been described as “incredibly welcome” for Bradford’s economy, with the city’s Chamber of Commerce saying it is “proof of Bradford’s capability as an economic powerhouse.”
The company, which produces cooling systems for data centres, says the new site will help boost its output by 150 per cent, and create 200 jobs over the next three to five years.
The company announced the purchase of the 14.6 acre manufacturing site off Dawson Lane on Tuesday. The purchase includes 29,000m2 of existing manufacturing space, with additional land offering opportunity for further expansion.
The site is currently used by card company Hallmark, with its offices and distribution centre based here.
Hallmark says the office jobs will remain, but distribution will be consolidated with another Hallmark site in West Yorkshire.
Airedale said: “The previous owner will continue to operate from there until the end of September 2024.
“Production of the first Airedale by Modine units in Bradford is estimated to commence in December 2024 once the site has been re-configured.”
A statement from the Leeds-based company said the site will “deliver increased production, test, office and storage capabilities”.
It added: “The addition of the site to Airedale by Modine’s UK manufacturing footprint will see the Bradford site specialising in the production and testing of precision air conditioning equipment, like computer room air handlers and fan walls. Airedale by Modine’s existing Leeds facility will focus on chiller production, with the move set to increase the company’s data center cooling production capability in the UK by 150 per cent.”
Managing director Adrian Trevelyan said: “This is another exciting chapter in Airedale by Modine’s history as we open this huge production facility close to our state-of-theart headquarters in Leeds.
“Having available plant capacity is crucial as data center operators are looking to secure production slots in advance as their development plans grow.
“Although we are in a comfortable position now across Europe and the US, we are receiving strong signals that more capacity will be needed as the demand for digital applications grows.”
A spokesperson for Hallmark said: “Hallmark is delighted to have reached a leaseback agreement with Airedale that sees Hallmark retain its office presence on the Bradford site.
“Hallmark has taken this opportunity to consolidate its warehouse and distribution operations into its other site in West Yorkshire.”
Mark Cowgill, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “This investment from Airedale into Bradford is incredibly welcome.”