New HQ Doubles Size of Plymouth Automation Firm
Applied Automation (UK) has officially opened its new headquarters in Plymouth, UK, which it moved into last year. The 13,000m2 (140,000ft2) site is more than twice the size of the two factories that it occupied before. The company now employs more than 130 people in Plymouth and at a second site in Cardiff, Wales. Buying and refurbishing the factory was a significant investment for Applied and it paves the way for our ambitious growth plan, says managing director, David Rowe. Weâre expanding our teams and our customer base, adding new products lines and entering new markets. We had outgrown the two sites were used to occupy, he explains. We wanted to bring the teams together under one roof to strengthen collaboration between divisions â and we desperately needed more space. Although moving here was a big jump in size, this factory gives us some room to grow and we donât want to have to move again any time soon. Founded in the 1980s with a staff of three, Applied Automation originally made industrial control systems. While engineering is still its core business, the firmâs activities now include profile assemblies, bridge systems for yachts, and home automation. It represents products including collaborative robots from Universal Robots and remote access systems for machine-builders from Secomea. The company exports to Europe, China and the US.
