The six-acre site of a former Hartlepool steel plant is being brought back to life after a Teesside-based company announced that it is moving home.
Steel Benders UK has taken on a multi-million-pound project that will see the ambitious business move from Middlesbrough for the first time since it was formed 21 years ago.
The transformation of the former Caparo and forge plant site on Brenda Road, Hartlepool, which has been largely demolished since its closure in 2015, will lead to the creation of at least 15 new jobs and a host of new opportunities.
It will also increase capacity and create greater options for Steel Benders, who are already one of the leading steel processing specialists in the UK, particularly in the north.
Tania Cooper, the managing director of Steel Benders, said: “The £2m project, in its entirety, is going to create more jobs and it will be the first time we have had a site that is fit-for-purpose.
“There will be huge opportunities coming up in the months and years ahead and this represents a huge step change for us, leading to us becoming more diverse and able to work in larger markets.”
Steel Benders have outgrown the space they have rented on Dockside Road, Middlesbrough, from Readman Steel and the new site will give them the capability to house more equipment and provide greater space for craneage and logistics.
Work on renovating the derelict brickhouse that runs alongside Brenda Road has already started and when complete that will include office space as well as a base for the only 8x2m fibre laser cutting bed in the north of England.
Over the course of the next two years Steel Benders will gradually complete the move to Hartlepool, having had support from Hartlepool Borough Council and a grant from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, managed by UMi, to help with capital spend and job creation.
Tania said: “It was hugely important to stay in the Tees Valley because we have a number of significant contracts here. Logistically the new site is perfect, Hartlepool had the right location for us, the right piece of land.
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“This represents a huge vote of confidence in the organisation and team. We are building a brand-new facility, a bespoke home that will set Steel Benders up for a basis of growth for years to come.”
And Cllr Mike Young, the Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, has welcomed the move.
He said: ‘‘The news that Steel Benders UK are relocating their full business to Hartlepool is fantastic news for our town and the wider business community.
“This industrial level investment will be bringing new jobs and it is great to see their growth and success that they have seen over the last few years. I am pleased that they have chosen Hartlepool and I wish them every success here in Hartlepool.”
Steel Benders operate in a wide-range of markets including marine, defence, renewable energy, offshore, petrochemical, manufacturing, architectural and civil engineering.
As well as utilising the fibre laser-cutting bed they also offer press braking, plasma cutter and HD profile burner services and the extra capacity will enable them to become the “supplier of choice” on huge wind farm projects in the coming years.
Steel Benders’ operations director Phil Anderson said: “It has been brilliant at our current home, on the Readman Steel site in Middlesbrough, and, as one of our customers, they have been fantastic to work with.
“But we have outgrown the site having started there 21 years ago with six members of staff and now we have 30-plus staff while looking to add even more members to the workforce.
“Originally we had six machines and now we have more than 50, enabling us to suit every customer’s needs and we will be able to assist with their fabrication projects even more so going forward.
“We are currently working out of two sheds and we are going to be building three bigger sheds plus a laser shed. That will allow us an extra 5m in height and a wider environment too. We will be able to hold more stock and speed up production.
“With this move we are proud to be staying on Teesside, where we are looking to utilise the local talent.”
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