Work is well underway on a new Application Centre

Invertek Drives Construction of Application Centre 1

Work is well underway on transforming the former manufacturing facility at our UK HQ into a new high-tech Application Centre.

This is part of a £10m investment we announced earlier this year that includes the significant expansion of our current manufacturing facility that was opened in 2019.

The Application Centre will be a hub for our sales, marketing and tech support teams, as well as a visitors and a training centre for our global visitors.

The work includes creating new offices, a training centre and meeting rooms with application demonstrations of our VFD technology incorporated into them.

The expansion of the existing manufacturing facility will create at least 85 new jobs over the next 12 months on top of over 300 people already employed at the global HQ. This follows a major recruitment drive over the past year in both the Production, Innovation and Research and Development departments.

Further commitment to investing in variable frequency drive technology

The news is a further commitment by the company to the Mid Wales region following its expansion in 2019 with a new 5,500sq metre global manufacturing and distribution facility adjoining its existing site at the Offa’s Dyke Business Park.

Speaking earlier this year, Shaun Dean, CEO of Invertek Drives, and who is also Senior Vice President of Sumitomo Heavy Industries and CEO of Power Transmission and Controls Group (EMEIA Business HQ), said: “We’ve seen significant growth in sales and turnover over the past 18 months despite the global pandemic.

“Invertek’s approach to maintaining a strategic stock of components has ensured we’ve been able to continue manufacturing our Optidrive range of VFDs despite the global supply chain problems currently facing many manufacturers,” he said.

“Invertek continues to commit to investing heavily in the innovation, development and manufacturing of VFD technology. The expanded manufacturing facility will allow us to increase production from 350,000 units a year to 600,000.

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Helping reduce energy use, emissions and climate change globally

“This is part of our drive to create the leading next generation VFD technology that will help to further reduce energy use and associated CO2 emissions globally.”

Investment will also be made in its expanding Innovation and Research and Development facilities. New R&D laboratories, including a dedicated motor room, test and validation centre have already been completed over the previous two years.

The investment is being driven by Invertek Drives parent company, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd (SHI), and is a further sign of its commitment to making Invertek a leader in the development and manufacturing of world-class variable frequency drive technology since 1998.

Mr Dean added: “The new Application Centre will showcase our products for existing and potential customers, as well as featuring technical and training facilities. This will act as a global hub for our sales and marketing, technical support, and training teams. In turn, this supports our extensive network of international sales offices, partners, and representatives.

For media information, contact:
Owain Betts, PR and Communications Manager
t: +44 (0)1938 558 253
m: +44 (0)7483 072 739
e: Owain.Betts@shi-g.com