CHEMICALS specialist Christeyns has officially opened a new engineering facility in Bradford.

Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, cut the ribbon at the new Cutler Heights unit, which is a further significant investment in facilities for the firm in Bradford.

The company's commercial laundry engineering division, currently handles multi-million pound contracts for laundries nationwide, and the new 5,600 sq ft facilities provide the firm with double the amount of space.

"As the largest player in the UK Commercial Laundry sector with around 75% market share, high-tech engineering systems have become a critical part of our customer offering, “ said operations director Dave Aveyard.

“This new facility will mean we can better serve our growing customer base and be future ready.”

Previously the engineering facility was housed at the firm's UK headquarters in Rutland Street in Bradford, but a larger, purpose-built space was required.

The new Cutler Heights facility includes a spare parts warehouse, maintenance workshop with tool stations for equipment testing and refurbishments, modern meeting room and training facility as well as offices.

The facility now houses the engineering team and provides hot desks for visitors as well as meeting facilities for management. Three apprentices are also working with the engineering team and will be based at the site.

Local MP, Mrs Cummins cut the ribbon with the help of Christeyns apprentices Hena Arif and Jordon Jeffrey and declared the facility officially open.

“It was an honour to open Christeyns’ new engineering facility with some of the apprentices from their workforce," she said.

"Christeyns are a great example of a company that is taking the lead on offering apprenticeship schemes to the next generation of our local workforce.

"I urge other companies from the area who are not already doing so to offer apprenticeship opportunities. There are some great young people out there who are our future.”

The new unit will support strategies and future plans for the next stage of Christeyns corporate development, including the continual development of new technologies such as Speed-O, the use of ozone gas and the firm's energy and water reducing systems.

The origins of Christeyns operations in the UK date back to 1874, to when the UK arm of the business was founded in Bradford. Previously trading as Oils and Soaps, the company was acquired by Belgium-based Christeyns 1998.

Christeyns UK has experienced significant growth in recent years and now includes cleaning chemicals specialists Cole & Wilson, Oscrete construction products, Clover Chemicals and Warrington-based Christeyns Food Hygiene.