Main Port Engineering’s new £1.8m purpose designed facility on the Haven Waterway Enterprise Zone was officially opened today by Economy Minister Edwina Hart and marks a key phase in the company’s growth plans.
The company, which has been trading since 1990, provides a complete engineering service to the petro chemical, food processing, water treatment, manufacturing and power generation industries.
The new manufacturing facility on a 5.5 acre site at Warrior Way, Cleddau Reach, will secure the firm’s long term future and enable the company to maximise the latest engineering technology, take on large long term contracts and create new skilled jobs.
The investment was supported with £650,000 from the Welsh Government’s Economic Growth Fund to create 30 jobs and safeguard the current workforce of 155. The company has already created 22 new jobs ahead of schedule and anticipate that up to 100 jobs will be created over the next five years.
Speaking at the launch, which was attended by customers and clients, the Minister said:
“This is a significant investment by Main Port Engineering and it’s good news to hear that the new fabrication hall will expand their capacity and extend their capability. The opening today marks a new phase of growth that will create skilled jobs and support their plans to target new business opportunities and markets.
“Main Port Engineering operates in one of our key sectors and is an important employer in West Wales. I am delighted the Welsh Government was able to support this project which is providing a welcome jobs boost and wish the company every success in the future.”
Director Jeff Harries said:
“The new facility is an important milestone for Main Port Engineering and a sign of our confidence in the business’ future. It has already created a lot of interest from our existing clients as well as potential new customers.
“Support from the Welsh Government was pivotal as we would not have gone ahead without this funding. We are all very grateful for this help and look forward to growing the business and creating more job opportunities in the area.”
The company is currently working with the Welsh Government’s energy and environment team to identify new opportunities in the marine and nuclear sectors.
The new facility will be able to accommodate overhead lifting gantries allowing the company to service larger contracts. It also has a dedicated area for trial assembly of large fabricated structures.
The company has also invested in new IT equipment at their existing offices on the new site which includes a boardroom and training and conference facilities.
To complement its workforce Main Port Engineering has an apprenticeship program which has been in place since 1995, working in partnership with the Pembrokeshire College and the ECITB. They currently have 22 apprentices of mixed trades and disciplines from year one through to year four. To date, they have introduced and trained 193 Apprentices into the Engineering Industry.
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