Jobs on the way as work starts on new £27m steel plant
A Black Country firm which makes parts for some of the world's largest car makers has begun work on its £27 million expansion.
Steel and Alloy Processing is building a new factory in Oldbury, which will eventually create around 150 jobs.
The company has its headquarters in West Bromwich and also has sites at Darlaston, Cannock and Smethwick, counting the likes of Jaguar, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo among its customers.
Its latest factory is being built on a 25,000 sq ft site in Popes Lane which, which formerly housed Albright High School until it closed in 1983 before later being used as Sandwell's Training and Development Centre.
Company chiefs and council leaders attended a special ceremony to mark the first spades going into the ground.
Representatives from Steel and Alloy's parent company, Gonvarri Steel Services, flew in from Madrid to attend the event.
The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a new factory which will see the creation of 50 jobs.
Another 100 workers are expected to join the firm over the next two phases of the expansion.
Steel and Alloy Processing has been based in West Bromwich for almost 50 years and has done work for major players in the automotive industry including Tata and ArcelorMittal.
It is hoped the new factory will be up and running by November. Mark Cooper, managing director of Steel & Alloy Processing, said: "Our main facility in West Bromwich is at full capacity and this significant investment demonstrates the confidence that our parent company, Gonvarri Steel Services, has in the UK business.
"It will allow us to develop new processing technologies and materials to meet the ever-increasing demands of the UK automotive industry and secure the company's position as the leader in the field."
Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling said: "It is encouraging to see significant investment from Steel and Alloy."
