Hochiki Europe plans expansion as it pays £5.5m for new facility in Kent
Global life safety company Hochiki Europe has paid £5.5m for a new facility in Chatham, Kent.
The building of more than 24,000 square feet and 1.92-acre site will be in addition to the European Headquarters and Research and Development Centre in Gillingham.
The new facility will bring with it new employment opportunities to the south east, adding to the existing 180 staff.
Following sustained demand for the company’s fire detection equipment and systems, the new building is part of a strategic expansion of footprint for the European arm of the group.
It will give the company space to expand existing operations in warehousing, production and distribution, as well as the sales and administrative teams.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Hochiki’s operations in Europe and the purchase is seen as a significant investment in the future infrastructure of the company.
The new facility will ensure demand is met and order volume is delivered efficiently and effectively to customers in the UK, across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.
Graham Lowe, Managing Director at Hochiki Europe, said: “Despite the challenging few years we have faced as a global community, I am proud of the efforts our teams have made to ensure our continued growth and I would like to thank each team member.
"Over the last six months we have been able to expand our teams to strengthen the expertise we offer our customers and now, with this new building, we can continue to deliver a world-class service in fire safety to existing loyal customers and an ever-growing pool of new customers”
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Image: The new Hochiki Europe building in Chatham, Kent. Credit: Hochiki Europe
