A NEW FACTORY IN BRITAIN'S OLDEST TOWN
AEW Delford System's new manufacturing plant based in Colchester was officially opened by the Icelandic Ambassador on 25th June 2008
Official opening of AEW Delford Systems new manufacturing facility in Colchester.
Left: David Ashmore, MD AEW Delford Systems Colchester. Right: His Excellency Sverrir Gunnlaugsson, Icelandic Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
AEW Delford Systems manufactures a comprehensive range of advanced checkweighers, weigh price labellers, labellers and other end of line machines and systems for the world's food processing industry. 119 people are employed at this new facility which represents a £1.8 million investment by Icelandic parent company, Marel Food Systems. It provides the necessary technology for the company to design, develop and produce machines and systems to higher standards with greater productivity.
The new 11,000 sq. metre site marks a successful combination of British engineering experience with Icelandic investment and technology so it was particularly appropriate for it to be opened by His Excellency Sverrir H Gunnlaugsson, Iceland's Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
For AEW Delford Systems, the move opens a new and exciting chapter in its history. The company was established in 1965 in Mitcham, Surrey and moved to Harwich in 1976, since when it has earned a worldwide reputation. In 1999 the company combined with Norwich based AEW Engineering and Thurne Engineering to form AEW Delford Systems which, in 2006, became a member of Marel Food Systems. The Norwich facility employs a further 145 people engaged in the design, development and manufacture of automatic portion control slicers and saws, high speed slicing machines and systems, robot portion loading and batching systems.
Founded in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1983, the Marel Food Systems group now comprises some of the world's foremost manufacturers of processing systems for the meat, poultry, fish and cheese processing industries.
Thanks to this substantial investment and close partnerships with its sister companies in the Marel Food Systems Group, AEW Delford is looking forward to a very bright future in a town with a very rich past.
Official Opening
David Ashmore, MD of AEW Delford Systems Colchester welcomed everyone and thanked the staff for their work in making the move so smooth and Marel for the investment that made the new facility possible. He said, “We now have a world class manufacturing facility to match the quality and reputation of our equipment. I am certain that we will go on to achieve much and can all look forward to a very bright future together.”
Mr Ashmore then introduced the Icelandic Ambassador for the official opening.
In his speech, the Ambassador stressed the importance of trade between the UK and Iceland, which has grown in recent years. Today Icelandic investment in the retail, wholesale and manufacturing industries accounts for some 120,000 UK jobs, with many businesses – including the largest supplier of fresh produce to Tesco – owned by Icelandic companies.
For over 100 years, Iceland has been supplying fish to the UK and it it is fish that was the origin of Marel Foods Systems, which started manufacturing simple conveyor belts for the Icelandic fishing industry and is now leading the world with its high tech, innovative processing systems for fish, meat and poultry.
The Ambassador joked that the East Anglian region, where AEW Delford Systems three factories are based, had previously been raided by Vikings from Norway and Denmark but never the Icelanders, who were peaceful and did not engage in combat.
He said, “In the same manner and spirit, the Icelandic Viking investors of today like Marel Food Systems are demonstrating their faith and abilities in the UK.”
He concluded, “I would like to congratulate AEW Delford Systems and its employees for creating the impressive new manufacturing base in Colchester.”
The Ambassador then officially opened the factory by unveiling an engraved plaque before joined other guests for a tour around the new factory that included a demonstration of some of the company's latest machines and systems.
Product Demonstrations
Systems demonstrated at the Open Day included:
WPL 8500 Heavy Product Weigh Price Labeller
G2200 Checkweigher
Concept 600 Top and Bottom Labeller
LS 40 promotional and descriptive Label Applicator
C Label Applicator for wrap around labelling
And the brand new 9000 series Weigh Price Labeller.
For more information about AEW Delford Systems, please contact:
Tony Ambrose or Terry Starkey
AEW Delford Systems
Pinetrees Road
Norwich NR7 9BB
Tel: 01603 700755, Fax: 01603 700844
e-mails: t.ambrose@aewdelford.com t.starkey@aewdelford.com
