WORK is under way on a £14 million expansion project at a Bradford chemical manufacturing site that will create more jobs.

The construction of a 13 metre high process building will enable Kemira Chemicals UK to make products it currently has to buy in. The Finnish-owned company, which makes products for water intensive industries, won funding from the Government's Regional Growth Fund for the scheme to build a 400,000 sq ft acrylamide production plant at its 34-acre site at Bowling Park Drive where it employs around 115 people.

Lincolnshire-based building and civil engineering company Britcon, which last year completed a £400,000 roofing project at the University of Bradford, is carrying out £2.3 million of civil engineering and construction and steelwork work, along with a tank farm, tanker unloading area and fire water collection pit.

Britcon was appointed by Engie Fabricom which designed the new plant and work us due for completion this summer. .

Britcon was brought in by Engie Fabricom, which designed the new plant, due to its expertise in process led civil and build projects.

Matt Leitch of Impruv Project Services Ltd,which is leading the project for Kemira, said; “We are delighted to progress the project with the very specialist skills of Britcon which is able to deliver this new facility to our unique specification.

"The new facility will greatly enhance Kemira’s manufacturing capability and production output, increase employment at the site and significantly reduce road transport traffic to and from the plant.”

When the RDG funding for the project was gained, Kemira's Bradford site manager Dave Goult said: “The Government’s support to advanced manufacturing industries through the Regional Growth Fund, offers significant hope for the development of a long-term future of manufacturing in the UK.

“This particular grant offer will support the development of a manufacturing process at our Bradford site that will enhance manufacturing capability within our business. The production output will be for use in improved water quality and quantity management.”

He said the introduction of a new manufacturing process would reduce costs, make the process greener and also extend the Bradford site’s life as a manufacturing base.

The global Kemira group produces chemicals and provides expertise to water, energy and raw material efficiency. It focuses on the pulp and paper, oil and gas, mining and water treatment sectors . In 2014, Kemira had annual revenue of £1.6 billion and around 4,250 employees.