Moray Business To Invest In Manufacturing Future

19th January 2012

Ambitious, family run Moray business Forsyths Ltd is to make its largest investment to date to expand local manufacturing facilities.

Work has begun to build and adapt a range of buildings and install specialist equipment at the company's Rothes site. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is supporting the multi-million expansion with almost £500,000, which will see the creation of 25 specialist jobs, a significant increase in turnover and the continued development of the company's international presence over the next three years.

Richard Forsyth, Chairman of Forsyths Ltd commented "This will be the single largest investment in the company's history with a total project cost of £3.3 million. As a business, we are currently experiencing significant international interest with orders reaching as far ahead as 2014. This development will be vital in allowing us to continue to meet the needs of our existing client bank as well as being able to introduce new customers."

The Forsyth Group collectively provides a complete service for their main markets of oil and gas and distillation, with growing opportunities in renewables as their emerging third sector. The construction work itself is set to benefit the local Moray economy by more than £1 million.

The Group is very much at the heart of many local communities and employs 285 people. While 70% of the additional output is likely to be for its existing oil and gas market Forsyths Ltd, a traditional coppersmith since 1880, is also likely to see an increase in business for the distillation sector. Collectively, the market reach for the company's products span the globe including; Canada, America, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, China and South Africa.

HIE's David Reid, said: "HIE is delighted to support this exciting investment by one of Moray's leading manufacturing businesses. As an agency, HIE works closely with the business to continually plan for its growth and to identify new markets in the UK and internationally. As well as being recognised locally as a key employer, Forsyths Ltd's specialist skills and services for both the oil and gas and distillation sectors are globally recognised."