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Record breaking year for global engineering company sees further expansion at its Global Technical Centre

Global process engineering company, Briggs of Burton is increasing its pharmaceutical manufacturing capability with further expansion plans at their multi-million-pound Global Technical Centre this week.

The company, based in Derby Street, Burton on Trent, has started work to create a brand new purpose-built clean assembly manufacturing facility at its headquarters in the town. Only two years after completing a major extension to their Global Technical Centre the investment is set to further enhance staff facilities while creating additional job opportunities in the town.

Breaking ground, the work follows continued growth for the Briggs Pharmaceutical division in the pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDI) sector used to treat patients with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Briggs have been actively designing and building end to end pMDI mixing systems across the UK and Europe as the market shifts towards a greener propellant.

The project will deliver an additional 890m2 flexible hygienic clean production area which will include six assembly bays, equipment stores and kitting areas. It will be used to build hygienic and sanitary modular skid units, specialist self-contained process systems used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, for projects across the UK, Europe, and North America.

Robert Buxton, Managing Director at Briggs of Burton said the expansion plans show the company’s continued commitment to supporting the engineering solutions of the future following robust growth in the pharmaceutical area.

He said: “Our growth in the pharmaceutical sector has been born from a passion and desire to offer market leading technologies to major blue chip companies across the entire production process. Briggs of Burton are leading exciting new projects in the pharmaceutical market and are developing engineering solutions to help our customers with their sustainability targets.”

A new staff welfare area will be built as part of the project creating a dedicated space for the Production team to take a break along with an extended outdoor area which will be used in the summer months.  

BHB Architects, Norder Designs and Derwent Valley Construction, who will lead the project, are the same project partners for the recent Global Technical Centre expansion. The build is expected to generate several new manufacturing roles when completed later in the year.

George Crombie, Briggs Engineering Director, said it was important for the firm to support local businesses as it continued to grow.

He said: “We are proud to be continuing our partnership with local architectural, design and construction partners in delivering this important project for the area.

Briggs has a longstanding connection with manufacturing in the Midlands as well as contributing to the UK Manufacturing and Engineering sector as a whole, and as we continue to grow our global reach it is important that we are able to support the region where our heritage first begun.”

The news comes as Briggs has been recognised as one of the fastest growing engineering companies in the UK being singled out in the prestigious Make UK national manufacturing awards.

The Make UK National Manufacturing Awards 2023 celebrate the best of UK manufacturing and engineering with Briggs recognised in the UK for the Business Growth and Strategy Award.

Briggs unveiled their new look Global Technical Centre in April 2021 following a major revamp of the current building and multi-million-pound extension to the site updating and creating new facilities.

Focusing on environmental and wellbeing benefits, the site not only created additional office space, break out areas and conference suites but also planted many hundreds of trees and shrubs, together with over an acre of wildflower and grassland into the surrounding landscape. The business has recently upgraded their electric supply and invested in six new EV charging stations for their team and visiting customers to access encouraging the usage of electrical vehicles. Briggs’ Global Technical Centre is heated by air source heat pumps providing energy efficient and low carbon heating solutions.

Briggs of Burton PLC was originally formed over 285 years ago specialising in brewing equipment and engineering and is known worldwide for its turnkey brewing and distilling capabilities. Started by Samuel Briggs in 1884 after he acquired Thornewill & Wareham, Briggs of Burton’s history can be traced back to 1732. 

Today Briggs of Burton, employs over 300 staff across six sites located in the UK, USA, China, and Mexico. The company provides turnkey process engineering solutions for leading companies globally. 

Their innovative and sustainable approach means that Briggs of Burton PLC are leading the way in nurturing engineers’ technical capabilities to drive efficiencies and environmental improvements across all sectors of manufacturing.  

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