UAP, the specialist in locks and hardware for doors and windows, has invested into a new 120,000ft² headquarter building in Bury, Greater Manchester.
The £750,000 investment has enabled UAP to relocate from sites in Radcliffe and Whitefield, bringing all its processes under one roof. As well as improving efficiency and connectivity between departments, the Orbital 60 building in Dumers Lane has more than doubled UAP’s stockholding capacity.
Order fulfilment for all seven UAP brands has been streamlined through specialised racking as well as new picking systems and software. The building also houses the company’s production lines, testing centres, and training facilities.
The move follows a year during which UAP’s overall business grew by more than 50%. Strategic acquisitions with Maher London and Security Hardware helped to fuel this expansion. UAP also invested in two new businesses in 2023 - Fire Door Maintenance (FDM) and Armadillo Metal Coatings. Both are now located at the new site, including FDM’s 3,000ft² Training Academy.
A total of 80 employees are based at Orbital 60, while teams at Security Hardware and Locking Systems remaining at their existing locations in the West Midlands and Tyne and Wear respectively.
David Jennings, CEO of UAP, said: “Our move to Orbital 60 is fundamental to our growth strategy. We have shifted from a labour-intensive warehouse system to a lean way of working and more modern facilities which will see future automation and less waste.
“With significantly more storage and streamlined processes, we can also hold extra stock for our UK customers and are working with our suppliers to maximise economies of scale for every product we buy.
“Another benefit of our new site is that it can better accommodate our growing workforce. Our acquisitions, diversification and new headquarters will count for nothing without significant investment in our people. At all levels, we have added depth and strength to our teams. This includes the arrival of highly experienced and knowledgeable people from across the industry thanks to our targeted acquisition strategy.”
