Wrexham-based manufacturing firm Unimaq has begun work on expanding its industrial estate in north Wales, with plans for 25,000 square foot in extra space.
The firm announced the news on LinkedIn earlier this week with the following post: "Work has started on the expansion of our premises in the Wrexham Industrial Estate. 25,000 square feet of additional space are to be added within the next few months."
Founded in 1993, Unimaq deliver the design and manufacturing of specialised machinery for the drinks can industry and are able to print beverage cans in eight colours at speeds in excess of 2,100 cans per minute.
Employing more than 20 people, the firm has grown from humble beginnings and can now boast more than £5 million in turnover, with around 97 per cent of its business coming through export sales.
Director Berty De Jong told The Parliamentary Review in his recent contribution that Unimaq's growth has in fact been driven by competition within the sector, a level of competition the firm has been consistently able to overcome.
"From 2016, we were able to build up again with our remaining team," he wrote.
"We hired new people with different skills, and by 2018 we were back to our previous level and had reached the same amount of turnover with only 65 per cent of the previous team.
"Since 2016 the beverage can business and our customers have been changing. Mergers and acquisitions between the can makers have created more focus and competition. We are also facing more competition from other machine manufacturers entering the market. Once more, this asks us to understand what the industry needs and makes us think about developing new equipment, machines and services which will benefit our customers.
"We put a lot of effort and resources into research and development using new technologies such as industrial lasers and ultraviolet LED lights. We are working with technology partners and local and national universities to support us in finding technical solutions for the technical challenges we are facing. It is exciting to see what is possible for us as a machine manufacturer in collaboration with academics, often partially funded by grants. Finding solutions will undoubtedly present opportunities for Unimaq to commercialise new machines and systems."
