Astec Industries has announced plans for a US$5 million factory expansion at its Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland site, to better serve growing market demands in the global mobile crushing and screening industry.
The expansion comes a year after the original facility was built to support the increased demand for mobile material handling products and was closely followed by the introduction of mobile crushing and screening products.
Tim Averkamp, Group President, said the project would add 44,000 square feet to the facility, bringing the total to nearly 100,000 square feet and investment in the site to nearly $10 million.
“This investment aligns with our ‘Simplify, Focus and Grow’ business strategy and demonstrates our commitment to growth in the aggregate, recycling and other material processing industries,” Averkamp said. “It positions us to significantly increase our distribution globally and will help us continue to offer best-in-class products and services to support to our customers.”
“We opened the original plant a year ago and already have to nearly double it in size, so it’s a real success story and shows the quality and demand of our product,” said Martin Dummigan, Group Vice President of Operations. “Northern Ireland is where more than half the supply of the global market for mobile crushing and screening equipment originates, and establishing a larger footprint here will not only help us grow our business but also better serve our customers and partners.”
Astec expanded into Northern Ireland after acquiring Telestack, a major global bulk materials handing solution manufacturer, in 2014. The company now has a workforce of approximately 200. Dummigan estimates the expansion will add more than 80 new local jobs over the next 24 months.
Astec plans to break ground for the expanded facility in late 2022, with expected completion by mid-2023.
