Univer Manufacturing, the Bradford-based industrial automation company, has made a £2.45m investment in a disused former Bradford Council building in Shipley to create a 24,000sq ft manufacturing site as its sales at home and overseas continue to grow.

Part of the British-owned TecnAir Group, the firm’s investment included £440,000 from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership’s grant programme.

The new facility features the latest CNC machine technology. It has increased the company’s manufacturing capabilities and enabled it to create 20 new jobs as well as winning a string of new export contracts.

Univer Manufacturing has also announced that another grant had been approved for the purchase of a second disused Bradford Council building, next to the Shipley site, which is due for completion in 2019. By enabling the company to consolidate in a single location, it will lead to greater efficiencies and growth opportunities.

A family run business, Univer Manufacturing specialises in standard pneumatic branded products, specialist pneumatic products, gas module production, vehicle fleet safety products and systems for armoured vehicles. It was established in 1988 and has become the largest independently owned specialist pneumatic manufacturing business in the UK. The company has production facilities in Europe and other parts of the world, such as Australia and China.

This latest investment is part of Univer’s ambition for further growth. Managing director, Dominic Pix, predicts that export sales will grow by 30% and current UK sales are already up 40%. The business currently exports worldwide.

Pix said: “By choosing to give new life to a former Bradford Council building that had been empty for a long period, rather than purchase a new build, Univer Manufacturing has also invested additional funds into the purchasing of the latest CNC automated technology.

“We have a history of working with the newest technologies and conceiving innovative products, which has enabled us to remain at the forefront of new developments. Our latest investment is no different.

“The new technology CNC machines allow us to manufacture more complex parts, faster and more efficiently than with conventional machines. Our Research and Development team now works from the new site, which has also allowed our prototype times to be improved. We are becoming increasingly more competitive because of Brexit and with this new facility at the centre of our growth plans, we hope to double sales over the next five years.”

Working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the LEP, has received funding through Leeds City Region Growth Deal – this is a £1bn package of Government investment aimed at accelerating growth and creating jobs across Leeds City Region.

Pix added: “We have worked hard to project a Hi-Tech image on this site and have been delighted with customer response, which has also resulted in being awarded a large contract on the back of our new facility.”

Andrew Wright, chair of the LEP Business, Innovation and Growth (BIG) Panel, said: “Univer Manufacturing is a prime example of a successful British business, which is demonstrating commitment to its Yorkshire roots through investment. By increasing its domestic output abilities through state-of-the-art technology, it has already created more jobs and outlined further plans for long-term growth which will benefit the regional economy.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford City Council, added: “I am delighted to hear that Univer Manufacturing has both expanded and at the same time given a new lease of life to previously unused properties in Bradford. By supporting growing businesses we are able to build on the region’s manufacturing excellence and create a strong and successful economy that benefits everyone.”