Global aluminium recycling giant Hydro is planning a \u00a335m investment in its Wrexham plant, potentially creating 30 new jobs.<\/p>\n
The expansion by Hydro, which will increase the plant\u2019s recycling capacity to over 100,000 tons a year, was discussed at a campaign event to help secure an \u00a380 million Investment Zone for Wrexham and Flintshire.<\/p>\n
The Norwegian-owned company was hosting a visit by members of the steering group leading the drive for Investment Zone status.<\/p>\n
The consortium includes the North Wales Business Council, Wrexham and Flintshire councils, Wrexham University and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Broughton, and is chaired by Joanna Swash, Group Chief Executive Officer of Wrexham-based outsourced communications provider Moneypenny.<\/p>\n
Investment Zones already exist in parts of England where \u00a380 million in funding for each Zone will be used for innovation, infrastructure and skills and training projects in the sectors being targeted.<\/p>\n
According to Wayne Clifton, Hydro Wrexham\u2019s Managing Director at its 10-acre site on Wrexham Industrial Estate, being part of an Investment Zone would be a big boost to its expansion plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cIncreasing our capacity here in Wrexham will enable us to meet increased customer demand for low-carbon aluminium. Every year, around one million tonnes of post-consumer aluminium scrap leaves Europe. Scrap being our raw material, it’s important to ensure we keep it in Europe and UK. This investment will ensure that more post-consumer scrap is kept in the loop and processed here at home,\u201d Clifton says.<\/p>\n
In addition to its direct labour force in Wrexham, the company also supports 2,000 sub-contractor hours a month.<\/p>\n
The business has now submitted the first of two planning applications to Wrexham County Borough Council to expand the operation, enabling it to process more scrap aluminium which would otherwise be sent overseas.<\/p>\n
The plant currently processes up to 150 tonnes of scrap aluminium a day which is mainly sold to the construction and the automotive industries.<\/p>\n
Wayne Clifton said: \u201cWe see increasing interest from customers in the UK to buy Hydro\u2019s low-carbon aluminium, particularly within the automotive, transport, and buildings and construction sectors. That is why we are planning an investment in our Wrexham plant increasing the aluminium recycling capacity to more than 100,000 tonnes per year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe importance of the Investment Zone is that it will mean improved supply chains and transport networks and an increasingly well-trained workforce that will enable us to move fast when market conditions change and that has been one of the challenges for us\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wrexham Council Leader Cllr Mark Pritchard has been a leading light of the campaign for a joint Wrexham Flintshire Investment Zone.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe Wrexham Industrial Estate is hugely important as regards employment, regeneration and development.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have so many global names like Hydro here and so many bespoke small companies and it\u2019s important we have the support of both the Government in Westminster and in Cardiff to make Wrexham and Flintshire one of two Investment Zones in Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all on the same page and working hard with businesses on our bid which recognises the importance of this status and is both ambitious and inspirational.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at Hydro here this is a modern site and they recognise the importance of carbon footprint and recycling and what they\u2019re doing here is fantastic and we want to help them increase that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are looking to expand here in Wrexham and we will do everything we can to help them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey and others have realised that we\u2019re in a fantastic location here with good transport links and a high quality workforce and there are lots of companies that want to come here and that\u2019s good news for jobs here and importantly for the quality of jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have challenges however and that\u2019s where the Investment Zone comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chair of the Investment Zone Steering Group for Wrexham Flintshire and\u00a0Group CEO of Moneypenny, Joanna Swash said: \u201cHydro are making a massive investment in developing their site and this sends a positive signal to the UK and Welsh Governments about North East Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a great place to do business and Investment Zone status would encourage further growth and investment with the \u00a380 million in funding that supports each Zone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would help protect the 30,000 manufacturing jobs that are already here and create thousands more in an area that is a cornerstone of advanced manufacturing in the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cIZ status would increase economic activity and boost confidence in the local community, create huge numbers of highly-skilled, well-paid jobs and show our young people that there are a wide range of excellent\u00a0career options on their doorstep.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would also lead to improved infrastructure, transport and investment in skills and training, along with innovation in the kind of technologies that are so important for the future, not just in terms of manufacturing but in creative and digital sectors also.\u201d<\/p>\n