Tong Engineering has officially opened a brand new purpose-built manufacturing facility on the edge of Spilsby following a three-year, two-phase project.
An opening event marked a milestone for the vegetable equipment manufacturer and its new 90,000 square foot factory is now in full operation.
The project benefitted from a £500,000 grant from the LEP’s Greater Lincolnshire Growth Fund which offered match-funded grants of £150,000 to £500,000 to help SMEs to increase productivity and create new jobs.
MD Edward Tong said: “Since we began our first-phase building at the end of 2019, we have been working towards the day where all departments of the business can operate from one site.
“It was a pleasure to finally open our factory doors to showcase our new manufacturing facilities and to demonstrate the part that every employee and each department at Tong Engineering plays in manufacturing our wide range of custom-built handling equipment.
“During the build project we have been fortunate to achieve the sale of and smooth transition from our heritage site in the town, which we occupied for almost 90 years, and we are delighted that we now have the facilities and space to maximise our manufacturing capability.
“We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to visit our new factory during our opening event,” said Edward. “We will of course be very happy to welcome more visitors over the coming months as we continue to demonstrate the manufacturing processes behind Tong equipment.”
Chairman Charles Tong added: “I am very proud that we have been able to complete this landmark achievement during my time in the business. It has been our goal for many years to operate from a purpose-built site, and very importantly in our home town of Spilsby which thrives on the business that local employment brings.
“Our new facility now fully occupies the seven-acre site, and we are very pleased with the efficiencies that have been created with all aspects of the business now under one roof.”
Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “Tong Engineering is a successful and well established Lincolnshire business and we were pleased to be able to support their growth ambitions with this grant. As an agricultural business Tong operates in one of the key sectors which we aim to support through the Greater Lincolnshire Growth Fund.”
