World market leader in lift safety edges, UK-based Memco Ltd. has just expanded and improved their production capabilities with the opening of a new, purpose-built factory in the Czech Republic. The site, in the city of Ceske Budejovice, was officially opened for business on March 19th 2008.

Ever-increasing demand for Memco products (up 20% in 2007) has led to the development of a new 4000 square metre plant which has now brought all aspects of production under one roof. 160 staff are already working onsite, and estimated production capacity is 3000 sets of detectors per week, expected to rise to 3500 shortly.

The city of Ceske Budejovice, situated right in the heart of Europe, is an ideal hub for distribution to Memco's European customers and branches. The company has been using various production facilities in the Czech Republic since 1999, and Peter Bailey, Managing Director of Memco, expressed his thoughts on this latest development of that strategy: "We are delighted with the success of our continued investment in the region, and opening this facility is a great boost to our production capacity and efficiency. We originally planned this building to give us enough space for future growth into the next decade. However increasing business volumes may see a further expansion earlier than we expected."

Andrew Williams, CEO of parent company Halma p.l.c., officially opened the plant and cut the ribbon in a rare sunny spell amidst the snow, with Jan Doubal, Manufacturing Director; Peter Bailey (MD) and John Campbell, Chairman of Memco hosting the event. Local TV, print and radio journalists attended the launch ceremony, along with various dignitaries including Jan Zahradnik, Chairman of South Bohemia District Council, Juraj Thoma, Mayor of Ceske Budejovice and Mike Moon, Head of Trade and Investment from the British Embassy in Prague.