Airedale factory receives royal opening
10th May 2016
UK: Airedale International’s new 23,000m² factory in Rawdon, Leeds, has been officially opened by Princess Anne.
After a short presentation in which the Princess Royal met the board, she then undertook a tour of the plant, meeting employees, including current and former apprentices.
The new purpose-built plant has been occupied since January of this year. The original factory was destroyed by fire in September 2013, forcing the company into temporary premises while rebuilding work progressed.
The tour route took in the r&d centre, sheet metal production area, paint plant and coil assembly area, precision air conditioning production line, chiller area, CITB approved training school workshops and classroom, along with the offices.
The royal visit culminated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque within the reception area joined by staff from all areas of the company.
“It was an incredible honour to receive this visit by The Princess Royal, and one that our employees will remember for years to come,” commented Airedale md Clive Parkman. “We are very proud of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities here in Rawdon, and the teams that run them, so it was a pleasure to be able to present these to such a prestigious guest. We are very privileged that The Princess Royal has taken such interest in our work and the future of British manufacturing.
“We have been working incredibly hard since moving here in January 2016 and this is a great way to celebrate the best of British manufacturing and the dedication and effort each of our teams have put into the business,” Clive Parkman added.
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