Blaze-hit company in £5m move to Dukinfield plant

A blaze-hit Bredbury firm is moving to Dukinfield this month in a £5m investment, safeguarding 75 jobs.

Bredbury-based Contact Originators was hit by a devastating blaze at its works back in January, but is now heading for its new site in Dukinfield.

The company, which develops and supplies plate and reprographics technologies to the print and packaging industry, lost 40 per cent of its production capacity after the fire destroyed one of two buildings at its Bredbury site.

But Contact Originators is moving into a new 28,500 sq ft super site in Dukinfield, just five miles from the Stockport facility. 

The company says the site will be a game-changer for the industry by setting a new standard for manufacturing, sustainability and the environment.

Steve Mulcahy (pictured below), CEO of Contact Originators Group, said: “Clearly the business has had a torrid time in 2020 with both the fire and Covid situation. 

“And yet, we have had amazing support from our teams, the community and our industry. 

“We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone for their support!

“Despite the challenges, we’ve worked hard to ensure it’s been business as usual for our customers and we’ve been working on our plans to deliver the next stage of the Contact business vision and strategy.

“We’re delighted to confirm that our new super site is ready for us to begin our move.”

The transitional move is now underway, continuing until full production starts in January 2021. 

“With the latest innovations from our technology partners, along with the creation of a fully streamlined, automated facility, Contact is building the future of flexo prepress production,” added Steve.

While the Bredbury site will remain operational during the transition, the Dukinfield site offers Contact Originators the opportunity to create a state-of-the-art office, studio and production space for its 70 plus employees.

Steve added: “We are building our vision of what a prepress plant should look like in the 21st century. 

“We are rolling out a highly efficient, sustainable facility that will deliver 24/7 excellence in quality and service.”

Main image:

STATE OF THE ART: New site safeguards 75 jobs. Inset, Contact Originators’ Steve Mulcahy.