Aycliffe family business, Stiller Warehousing and Distribution, is continuing its impressive growth by investing more than £1m in a new state-of-the-art storage facility.
The 40,000 square feet warehouse will increase by nearly 50% the firm’s capacity at its premises in the heart of Aycliffe Business Park.
Stiller employs 140 people and has ploughed £1.1m into the new unit which will include a new 21st Century racking system and ‘Very Narrow Aisle’ handling equipment.
The multi-user warehousing facility constructed by local steel firm Finley Structures, will increase Stiller’s storage footprint to 200,000 sq ft and is expected to be completed by August.
It comes just four months after Stiller announced a new £15m three-year deal with food packaging firm Coveris Rigid, which is expected to increase annual turnover from £10m to between £12.5m and £13m this year.
Commercial manager Matthew Stiller said: “We were struggling to accommodate our current workload and order book within the space that existed between our own site and another property we lease on Aycliffe Business Park.
“This is a long-term investment for the company and part of our 10-year business plan to sustain employment and create new jobs in the future. We have a full workload, and this expansion will enable us to be more efficient and take on more business.
Work began on the new warehouse in February, with initial work carried out by Richardson’s Builders of Darlington. Finley Structures fabricated and erected 140 tonnes of steel as well as the cladding, supplied by Tata Steel. The building has been designed by ADG Architects of Darlington and BDN Engineers of Durham.
Mr Stiller added: “We’re very proud of the fact we have used local companies to build this new development, which is supporting local jobs.
“It is particularly exciting to have this opportunity to develop a modern and efficient warehouse on our site and we look forward to attracting additional warehousing business”
The new £1.1m facility takes Stiller’s overall investment in the last two years to £5.6m, during a time when several neighbouring businesses are also expanding.
Mr Stiller said: “Aycliffe Business Park is on the up and we’re feeling the benefit of the upturn in our industry.
“But we’re not the only companies in our business community expanding. DPE, Gestamp Tallent, 3M, Finley Structures and Ebac are all expanding and there’s definitely a feel-good factor.
“We’ve invested heavily in land and property in the last two years and some of that has been turned into warehousing, storing items for our clients. The third arm to the business is distribution, so it’s easy to see how all three sides work hand-in-hand.
“There are other development plans already on our radar which we’ll be looking to take forward soon, so we’re very pleased with our performance at the moment.
“But you can never afford to take your eye off the ball and we continue to run a tight ship which will ensure the long-term stability of jobs here in Newton Aycliffe.”
Stiller Warehousing and Distribution commercial manager Matthew Stiller next to the firm’s new £1.1m warehouse, under construction on Aycliffe Business Park.
