Avingtrans' Energy & Medical Division Invests in Chinese Facility

Avingtrans invests in new Chinese facility Avingtrans has invested over £1.4 million in a new manufacturing facility in Chengdu, China to support its work with medical and energy customers in the region. The 53,000 sq ft facility is the Energy and Medical Division’s second factory in China and will operate alongside its UK facilities – Maloney Metalcraft (Aldridge, West Midlands), Metalcraft (Chatteris, Cambridgeshire) and Crown International (Bristol). Employing 12 full-time workers, the facility will initially offer customers high-quality horizontal and vertical machining services and has capacity to scale up production as markets expand.

Austen Adams, divisional managing director of Avingtrans’ Energy and Medical division, said: “We’re excited by the opportunities that exist in the Chinese and wider Asian markets. “This investment demonstrates our commitment to making sure we have the appropriate facilities and skilled workforce in place to serve new customers in emerging markets, as well as providing facilities for existing customers looking to move into these territories.” Austen continued: “As one of the leading global suppliers of whole-body MRI cryostat vessel parts and magnet formers to medical equipment OEMs, our new facility will initially focus on supporting customers in this area.

“We will also focus on developing the energy industry expertise of the site to support customers across our business, including nuclear and renewables markets. I’m looking forward to working closely with Martyn Habgood, who is leading this initiative in China for Metalcraft, to maximise the opportunities in this market.” Avingtrans last week reported a 90% increase in revenues in its half-yearly interim results statement to the markets.

The energy and medical division contributed to an increase in revenues from £16.9m to £32.2m during the year to November 2013, with the acquisition of Maloney Metalcraft from Exterran UK in June delivering critical mass and expanded capabilities to its oil & gas sector. The division’s existing facility in Chengdu is dedicated to volume customers’ products and is supported by a ‘Safe Low Cost’ philosophy that means customers benefit from global value sourcing while retaining the quality controls and strategic support of the division’s UK operations.

The wider division offers a one-stop shop for the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of components and systems for the medical, oil and gas, nuclear, power, renewables and environmental markets. Specialising in the design and manufacture of pressure vessels, heat exchangers and separation components in a range of materials, it works with a wide range of materials, from basic carbon steels through to high-tensile steels, stainless steel, exotic alloys, high nickel alloys and aluminium.