EXPANDING Nelson company Riggs Autopack has moved into new premises as it looks to increase orders and create new jobs.

The company which manufacturers high quality depositors and filling machines for the food production industry, has re-located from Southfield Street to a new purpose-designed site at Premier Mill, Brunswick Street.

The move to a new 50,000 square-feet unit means the company, which is part of the Fort Vale Group can extend its work with some of the biggest names in the food industry and look to add to its current staff of 28. “Having more manufacturing space will allow us to further expand and bring some of the sub-contracting work back in-house that we’ve previously put out,” said Riggs Autopack general manager Nigel Matthews.

“By doing this, it will allow us to create jobs and employ more people from the local area.

“As part of the company’s continued growth strategy we have plans in place to hire extra staff during 2013, including two machine shop apprentices and are currently looking to add to our external sales team and in-house design department.

“We have experienced continued growth for a number of years now, meaning we provide investment back into the business and, in turn, our staff’s future.

“Riggs Autopack is a people and team-driven company and it’s due to the right people being recruited in the right departments that we owe our success.

“All these factors, in conjunction with the move to our new factory, can only help us to keep growing further and maintain our market position.”

Established in the 1930s, Riggs Autopack is a UK market leader as suppliers to food producers of liquid, semi-liquid and suspended solid products from start-up companies and cottage industries to multi-national groups and international factories.

The new unit has been specifically re-fitted throughout, with the installation of new offices, meeting and exhibition rooms, training area, shop floor production, product testing and machine demonstration.