Applelec embark upon multi-million pound expansion

Applelec purchased a 6.3 acre Wharfedale Business Park in late 2014 and can now announce that phase one of the development has been completed with the opening of the first new factory at the site.

The complex will see Applelec’s operations consolidated at one location with new factories for the signage, display and lighting divisions of the company opening alongside a stores warehouse. The signage factory and company stores will be linked by modern, purpose-built offices designed by NJ+Architects which will see all staff relocated to the business park in the final phase of work.

Ian Drinkwater, Applelec managing director, said: ‘After 17 years at our current premises, it’s no exaggeration to say that we’ve outgrown both our offices and factories. Wharfedale Business Park finally provides Applelec with the space we need to meet our expanding workload whilst ensuring we have room to grow in future years.’

Opening in the summer of 2015, the signage factory is now home to 22 members of staff, three CNC machines and Applelec’s state of the art letter making machinery including an automated return shaper and laser welder.

The layout of the new factory has been developed with priority to workflow based on historic sales, with additional height to accommodate the manufacture of architectural signs including large scale fabricated totems and monoliths. Planning for site accessibility was a priority at Wharfedale as architectural signage has been a growth area for Applelec in the last twelve months following the appointment of design engineer Matty Bullough.