Formica Group is celebrating its 100 anniversary this year, bringing it with it good news for the future of the Aycliffe plant which was established here in 1969.
Newton News was privileged to interview the European Vice President Mark Jennings who along with Jennifer Neale European Marketing Communications Manager gave a conducted tour of the plant and outlined the success behind the Aycliffe factory, praising its very competent and loyal workforce.
Mark told us the company had moved its warehousing to Aycliffe creating 15 new jobs in a drive to improve the logistic efficency of Formica Group as they expand further into the European market. The 50,000 sq foot unit now houses 6000 shelves for over 250,000 pieces of laminate and have introduced a state of the art storage facility which will improve the turn around of customer orders.
Formica Group, now owned by Fletcher Building a New Zealand Construcion giant, exports all over the world and is still a well recognised brand. The worktop manufacturing facility at Aycliffe is impressive with a production unit turning out a multitude of bespoke items for an even bigger range of finished goods.
Formica Group celebrated its 100th year with a new range of worktops and designs. The Axiom worktops are outstanding and the new “Anniversary” collection of laminates take their products into a new dimension.
The Aycliffe plant continues to specialise in bespoke decorative laminate work and has a sophisticated silk screen printing department. The range of uses for their product is unbelievably diverse from specially printed wall cladding to signage, table coverings and wall decoration.
Mark, born in Belfast, moved to Sedgefield with his parents aged 10. After senior education he studied at QE College Darlington before moving to Exeter University where he graduated as a Mining Engineer. Mark was appointed a Vice President of Formica Group 3 years ago. He travels the world and lives near Hexham.
