Huddersfield is providing a new home for one of Europe’s top manufacturing organisations.
Klüber Lubrication GB has moved to Pennine Business Park at Bradley as part of ambitious growth plans that will create more jobs and further develop the firm’s collaborative projects with leading engineering companies.
And it represents a homecoming for Paul Holland, managing director for sales and marketing, who hails from Fixby and lives at Kirkheaton.
He said the UK operation, which was previously based at Northowram, Halifax, had been looking to move into modern offices for some time to provide a base for its 26 staff and offer space for expansion.
The new offices also provide room for an “active exhibition space” where customers can find out more about Klüber’s products, attend seminars and undertake training in the use of its products.
The Bradley premises were officially opened by Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, who was welcomed by Mr Holland; Peter Webster, managing director for finance and administration; and main board directors Dieter Becker and Claus Langgartner.
Mr Langgartner presented his English colleagues with a traditional German housewarming gift of bread and salt together with a Bavarian beer stein.
In return, guests were invited to sign a Huddersfield Town shirt, instead of a visitors’ book.
Mr Langgartner said UK manufacturing was picking up after being “flat” during the recession and told employees: “This is a beginning. You are a very important part of the Klüber Group.”
Mr Sheerman said Klüber GB had “traded up” by moving from Halifax to Huddersfield, describing the town as the “jewel in the crown” of Yorkshire manufacturing.
Klüber supplies a range of oils and greases for use in applications ranging from Formula One racing cars to wind turbines. Customers include Nestle, Siemens Wind Power and Coca Cola.
Mr Holland said the aim was to make the Huddersfield site a centre of excellence, adding: We have 250 years of experience among the people based at this site.
“We train people here and support our colleagues in Scandinavia, the Benelux countries, Switzerland and South Africa.”
He said: “Our growth strategy is underpinned by being able to deliver complete lubrication solutions to all industries through our highly qualified field team supported by a trained and knowledgeable office staff.
“We invest heavily in all our people, so it was vital we take the existing team with us and have space to grow so we can deliver our ambitious but achievable growth targets with confidence.”
Klüber GB, which opened the Halifax site in 1978, has started a recruitment drive with field staff being employed in key sectors such as marine, oil and gas.
“West Yorkshire is a critical part of the equation because we need to be able to comfortably service Scotland and East Yorkshire and the Humber from our base,” said Mr Holland.
“The marine sector has been a major growth area for us in recent years and we have already invested heavily in a new website specifically for that market.
“We are now looking to boost our offering across sectors with new pioneering products.”
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