Advanced engineering group AB Dynamics has drawn up plans for a second state-of-the-art factory just a year after its new manufacturing plant was opened.
The firm, which supplies test systems to some of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers, has submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council for the new 33,000 sq ft factory, pictured in a CGI image, which it says will help it create more highly skilled jobs.
The purpose-built facility will be opposite the firm’s head office in Bradford on Avon. AB Dynamics said the new building represented “a substantial new investment” as part of its longstanding commitment to engineering in the area and would help it improve the productivity of current operations and aid future expansion.
It stressed that close interaction between design engineers and production staff was vital to the business – but its current spread of offices across five sites in Wiltshire was leading to inefficiencies.
The firm – which employs more than 160 people worldwide, the vast majority in Bradford on Avon – moved most of its operations to its new £9m engineering facility on Holt Road last year.
As well as creating an unspecified number of highly skilled jobs, the new factory would further establish a high-calibre business hub close to Bradford on Avon’s town centre, AB Dynamics said.
This was the result of an enlarged forward order book and encouraging sales prospects for new products under development. Rising global demand for high-quality automotive test equipment was a contributing factor in the recent growth of its overseas sales – more than 97% of its products are now exported.
CEO James Routh said: “This new building will be critical to help facilitate future growth so that we can continue to successfully compete in a global market, along with creating many skilled jobs to boost the local economy.”
AB Dynamics – formerly known as Anthony Best Dynamics – has been at the forefront of vehicle and chassis development for 35 years. Today the 25 most successful vehicle manufacturers worldwide use its driving robots.
The company began providing noise, vibration and suspension engineering services to the automotive industry in 1982 and has now grown to become one of the world’s most trusted suppliers of automotive test systems.
The firm will announce its final results for the 12 months to August 31 next Wednesday.
