FUCHS invests in upgrading UK lubricant facility

German lubricant manufacturer FUCHS is building a new warehouse at its UK headquarters, as part of an ongoing GBP 10 million (USD 13.3 million) investment, which will include a new raw materials facility built at the Hanley site, and the installation of new, innovative manufacturing plant machinery.

The investment comes 12 months after its new state-of-the-art head office was opened at the site and coincides with ongoing enhancements at its Research and Development (R&D) Technical Centre.

“This is a hugely significant project which will have fantastic benefits for the business,” said Richard Halhead, managing director at FUCHS Lubricants (UK). “It will elevate FUCHS Lubricants to a unique position as the only lubricant manufacturer in the UK with this type of facility, firmly placing us at the forefront in the R&D, manufacture and distribution of lubricants in the UK, and maintains our pledge to continually build for the future.”

The construction of the new 4,000-pallet warehouse will enable FUCHS to significantly increase its capacity for raw materials. An existing building will be converted to a specialty packaging warehouse.

The investment will also enhance the current production process with the introduction of new machinery, including a robotic arm, an automatic filling machine, and a second Lube Cube machine which will support the increasing demand for recyclable packaging.

At the same time, FUCHS has installed roof-mounted solar panels and implemented a state-of-the-art computerized maintenance management system, etc.

Further investment is being planned, including a second robotic arm, driverless forklifts and automation upgrade to the existing production line.

“Our ambitious aim is to produce the most modern lubricants blending plant in the UK, and we feel this significant expenditure in our infrastructure will put us well on the road to achieving that,” said Halhead.