One of the UK’s largest roof truss producers, Pasquill, is starting production on four new sites and reopening a mothballed plant in Newport as the housing market improves and it seeks to complete national network coverage.
Managing director Stuart McKill told TTJ that about 7-10 staff were being recruited at the new locations, while some temporary jobs were being made permanent positions at existing sites.
A plant at Bury St Edmunds is producing its first trusses, with ability to expand into other products, while the Newport truss and I-beam factory, mothballed last year, is being opened again.
Pasquill truss manufacture is also starting at a Jewson site in Buckley, north Wales, and a plant in Abingdon will open this month.
Mr McKill said a further site would open by early summer on an existing site belonging to parent Saint-Gobain, which would complete national coverage.
He said the Newport site was mothballed and the headcount reduced when the market hit the bottom in the middle of 2009.
“We knew we would have quite a difficult winter again. “We had to reorganise to protect the business but hold onto the infrastructure and we have seen some of the benefits. We held onto the core design team.
“Housebuilders are reporting stronger positions and we have a bit more market. It’s a difficult situation to read and the market is still extremely fragile, but we are pushing ahead.”
