Alstom plans to develop new state-of-the-art facility in Stafford

International engineering company Alstom has today announced that it plans to build a new facility in Stafford to house its Automation division. Alstom will retain a number of its existing locations in the town and build the facility at the Redhill Business Park, with the aim to open it by the end of 2016, when the companys UK Automation activities will move from its current location at its St Leonards site.

Terence Watson, Alstoms UK President, said: This is an exciting development for the Grid business which has been operating out of its existing premises for over half a century. The new facility will be state-of-the-art and will be fit for purpose, as well as better reflecting the high tech nature of our business.

Staffordshire County Councils economy leader Mark Winnington said: Alstom is one of Staffordshires flagship companies and a global leader. To have it commit to Stafford and to the county in the long-term is fantastic news for everyone. Alstom will be the first company to move onto the county-council developed Redhill business park and it is exactly the type of company we want there. It is a major employer in one of our main sectors and further demonstrates this county as being a prime location for advanced manufacturing and engineering. This is a great way to end the year after so many economic successes in Staffordshire.

Leader of Stafford Borough Council, Councillor Mike Heenan, said: We have worked very closely with Alstom over a number of years to ensure their future in Stafford. So we are delighted that they have managed to find the site at Redhills which will meet their needs and secure their long term future and that of their employees. It is further proof of the attraction that our County Town has for leaders in the global engineering industry.

Alstom in Stafford is a worldwide centre of excellence for the company in high voltage direct current (HVDC) and automation technologies. The teams have been at the centre of a number of major contract wins, including projects in India, Sweden and Germany.

Around 1,400 people work for Alstoms Grid business in Stafford, with another 300 in the companys Thermal Power unit, making the company the towns largest private sector employer.

About Alstom
In the UK, Alstom is active in the rail, power and electricity transmission sectors, operates from 30 sites and employs more than 6,500 people across the country. Around a third of all rail journeys in the UK are made on Alstom rolling stock, our generating kit powers half of the UKs power stations, we are testing new tidal turbine technology in waters off Orkney, and we operate the only large-scale transformer manufacturing facility in the UK. Our sites in Stafford and Rugby have been at the forefront of engineering developments since the 19th-century and continue to produce cutting edge technology for projects across the world.

Alstom Grid has one clear vision: to develop innovative solutions for a flexible, reliable, affordable and sustainable electrical grid, everywhere. We design, manufacture, install and service the power transmission and distribution products and systems that empower the planets low carbon economy... for now and for the future.

Alstom Grid has over 130 years experience and ranks among the top three in the electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of 3.8 billion. Alstom Grids 17,000 employees are spread across 87 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide and have one common mission: be our customers trusted partner, from the source to the city.

Press contact
Jonathan Smith, Head of Media Relations, Alstom UK Tel 01788 545602
jonathan.smith@alstom.com