FFEI invests £2m in new HQ and technology centre

Hemel Hempstead, UK (29th May 2008) FFEI announces its plans to invest £2m in a new 66,000sqft, HQ and technology centre, in Hemel Hempstead, UK. Designed to centralize and significantly streamline its international R&D, production, customer service and sales operations, the new facility will better support its rapidly expanding business and blue chip customer portfolio.

As a leading player in the global graphic arts markets, the new FFEI facilities will include an R&D and manufacturing centre for digital printing products and life science micro scanning, along with a large software development lab to house FFEI’s growing software business. The facilities are expected to open later in the summer, with full production being operational from October 2008.

Andy Cook, Managing Director, FFEI comments, ‘Since the MBO from FUJIFILM in 2006, we have been investing heavily in several advanced new technologies. With the recent introduction of a range of new products and a growing number of partnerships, the new site will future-proof the FFEI business, provide cutting edge technology and product facilities, designed to better meet customer requirements and enable continued company growth.’

FFEI has been based on the Maylands Business Park in Hemel Hempstead, since the early eighties. In 2005, the company was severely affected by the Buncefield oil depot explosion and forced to relocate to another temporary premises.

Since then, the company has carefully assessed its current operations, while searching for a suitable replacement premises. The choice to stay in Hemel Hempstead was due to the town offering a good transport infrastructure with easy access to airports and motorways, and it being accessible to most FFEI employees. In addition, Maylands remains one of the largest industrial sites in the UK, with over 600 active businesses including many blue-chip worldwide brands. This makes it an ideal, well serviced, trade ‘hub’ for the south.

FFEI currently operates from three locations in the UK, including a CTP manufacturing facility in Peterborough. To enable a fully integrated operation, FFEI will also relocate its CTP production from Peterborough to the new Hemel Hempstead facility, with a planned completion date of December 2008.

Andy Cook concludes, ‘This latest investment in our world-class facilities will provide us with a better infrastructure to continue our growth in new technology areas. Our clients tend to be global market leaders, and as such, we pride ourselves in providing high quality, leading design and manufacturing capabilities. As we enjoy growth as a privately owned company, we believe that this investment is further evidence of our continued success.”

ENDS

Hemel Hempstead, UK (29th May 2008) FFEI announces its plans to invest £2m in a new 66,000sqft, HQ and technology centre, in Hemel Hempstead, UK. Designed to centralize and significantly streamline its international R&D, production, customer service and sales operations, the new facility will better support its rapidly expanding business and blue chip customer portfolio.

As a leading player in the global graphic arts markets, the new FFEI facilities will include an R&D and manufacturing centre for digital printing products and life science micro scanning, along with a large software development lab to house FFEI’s growing software business. The facilities are expected to open later in the summer, with full production being operational from October 2008.

Andy Cook, Managing Director, FFEI comments, ‘Since the MBO from FUJIFILM in 2006, we have been investing heavily in several advanced new technologies. With the recent introduction of a range of new products and a growing number of partnerships, the new site will future-proof the FFEI business, provide cutting edge technology and product facilities, designed to better meet customer requirements and enable continued company growth.’

FFEI has been based on the Maylands Business Park in Hemel Hempstead, since the early eighties. In 2005, the company was severely affected by the Buncefield oil depot explosion and forced to relocate to another temporary premises.

Since then, the company has carefully assessed its current operations, while searching for a suitable replacement premises. The choice to stay in Hemel Hempstead was due to the town offering a good transport infrastructure with easy access to airports and motorways, and it being accessible to most FFEI employees. In addition, Maylands remains one of the largest industrial sites in the UK, with over 600 active businesses including many blue-chip worldwide brands. This makes it an ideal, well serviced, trade ‘hub’ for the south.

FFEI currently operates from three locations in the UK, including a CTP manufacturing facility in Peterborough. To enable a fully integrated operation, FFEI will also relocate its CTP production from Peterborough to the new Hemel Hempstead facility, with a planned completion date of December 2008.

Andy Cook concludes, ‘This latest investment in our world-class facilities will provide us with a better infrastructure to continue our growth in new technology areas. Our clients tend to be global market leaders, and as such, we pride ourselves in providing high quality, leading design and manufacturing capabilities. As we enjoy growth as a privately owned company, we believe that this investment is further evidence of our continued success.”

ENDS