Big advancements for Lisburn company Ad-vance Engineering
June 7, 2018
Lisburn-based Ad-vance Engineering is facing its biggest period of growth since the company was formed 14 years ago by Roger Vance; a toolmaker by trade.
Primarily a precision engineering company specialising in bespoke injection moulding tools for the plastics manufacturing industry across the globe, the company is expecting an impressive 25% growth in turnover, driven mainly by export sales. Research & Development is also now a focus for the business which means providing tailored solutions to their customers who are based around the globe.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has worked with Roger and his team on a number of business support programmes and last year the company took part in the annual Lisburn Castlereagh at Westminster networking event in partnership with Lagan Valley MP, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
Speaking at a recent Business Engagement visit to Ad-vance Engineering, located close to the Maze Site, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, Alderman Allan Ewart, MBE, said: “I was delighted to hear that following the company’s attendance at our Westminster event a new customer has come on board with orders to the value of £100k. This demonstrates that the Council’s business support, our networking events and the promotion of our Council area for investing really works. We are delighted with the success of Ad-vance Engineering to date and clearly there is more success to come.”
Managing Director, Roger Vance, comments: “In the last 18 months Ad-Vance Engineering’s business model has been transformed from being a reactive tool maker providing mainly repair and maintenance projects to becoming a collaborative partner on innovative R&D projects with leading injection moulders in our nearest GB export market. We expect our turnover to increase by 25% in the current year driven by export sales.
“Our expansion to a larger manufacturing facility outside of Lisburn and a six-figure investment in new workshops and machinery is testament to our continued growth ambitions. Our recruitment of two additional apprentices to the workforce, two CNC operatives and a new technical director will help drive future growth while also providing skilled employment in the Lisburn area.”
Ad-Vance Engineering was established in 2004 at the Altona Industrial Estate in Lisburn but moved a few years ago to a larger site which Ad-Vance acquired close to the Maze complex. The company was a recent finalist in the Lisburn & Castlereagh Business Awards 2018 (Innovation category) and were also shortlisted at the Business eye/ First Trust Bank SME awards for Innovation.
The company is recognised by the industry for their apprentice schemes recruiting two apprentices from SERC. In 2017 one apprentices, Nathan McCourt, won the South Eastern Regional College Inter-Campus Engineering Skills Competition in the Milling & Turning Category.
Ad-Vance Engineering are also involved with QUB`s Employer Gateway initiative whereby they actively advertise internship and graduate recruitment opportunities to engineering and business graduates. The company will also be involved in upcoming jobs fairs and possible sponsorship of an academic prize.
If your business is in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area and would like to take part in one of the business engagement visits contact the Council’s Investment Team on Tel: 028 9244 7384.