Airedale International Air Conditioning has announced that it will move production to a new temporary site in Leeds within the next few weeks.
While the focus is on returning to full production as quickly as possible, Airedale is now working with architects on plans to design and build a new factory, business suite and technology centre facility at the existing site in Rawdon, Leeds, which was damaged by fire on 6 September.
Clive Parkman, Airedale's managing director said: 'I firmly believe that we can build a bigger, stronger Airedale that will see us secure our world-leading, award-winning position in the market for another 40 years and beyond.'
With key items of plant including sheet metal and paint shop intact, Airedale intends to transfer production to the 'Leeds West', Gelderd Lane site, which is located on one of the main routes into Leeds and close to the motorway networks. With an area in excess of 130,000 square feet, the new facility provides sufficient space to house production and administration until the existing site is redeveloped.
In the interim, much of the manufacturer's normal operations are continuing virtually without interruption. Service engineers attended at customer sites from day one, as planned, and production of Controls, Small Systems, Condensers and Condensing Units was equally quickly resumed. Some of its production of systems destined for the Southern hemisphere has also been picked up by Airedale's sister company in South Africa.
In the weeks up to the move, Airedale is concentrating on fabrication and component assembly so that units can be built and despatched as soon as the new site is operational around mid-October.