Doorset manufacturer John Porter Ltd aims to double turnover within 18 months following its move to new premises in Sunderland and £750,000 investment in production equipment.
The company moved from a cramped 30,000ft3 site in Newcastle late last year to a 115,000ft2 factory, doubling capacity to about 200 doorsets a week. Future weekly production is estimated to reach up to 800 units.
New machinery installed by John Porter, which makes fire-rated, hospital, acoustic, X-ray, ultra clean and wet area doors and doorsets, includes a press system, door production line, lacquering facilities and additional support equipment.
The company, the subject of a management buyout last year by Tim Porter and Ian McSally, said the move allowed it to maintain shorter lead times. It also intended to take on a further 50 staff.
Machinery installed include a £300,000 Stephani Activa 58 combination line, which sizes doors and applies hardwood lips, before trimming and grooving the sides in one pass.
A £17,000 Gabbiani beam saw has meant flax board can now be bought in larger sizes, saving in material costs, then cut to particular sizes. Multi-layers can also be incorporated.
An SCM M3 multi-rip saw, which cost about £17,000, features feed speeds of up to 48m per minute, with a 350mm saw blade and 110mm maximum cutting depth.
Completing the investment was a £100,000 GST Giardina lacquer line to apply varnish to veneered doors, plus a £70,000 extraction system.
