Rochdale opens new doors for manufacturing firm

Richard Hagan and Julie Evans at the new office of Crystal Doors

A company that produces more than 100,000 bespoke doors each year has moved to a new state-of-the art facility.

Crystal Doors has moved to a new 23,000 sq ft factory on the Transpennine Trading Estate from its former base in Middleton.

The Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) helped the company find the new site, which has an additional 1.2 acres of land, and will allow Crystal Doors to triple its output.

The move was secured after the company secured a £116,000 grant from the Northwest Development Agency. Crystal Doors is now in the position to create eight new jobs, taking the total number of employees to 33.

Richard Hagan, 40, set up the company in 1994, when it employed just 12 people.

He said: “We would not have been able to complete the move without RDA’s support.

“In a difficult economic climate it is always a big risk to move sites, so the support RDA has shown has been vital in our growth and job creation.

“The new building is much more modern and will give us more room for our equipment and future expansion.”

The new site will boast 2,000 sq ft of office space, with a 1,000 sq ft display area. The rest of the site will house Crystal Door’s specialist equipment.

Julie Evans, Business Development Manager for RDA, said: “It’s great to see a manufacturing firm thriving in Rochdale.

“We have worked with Richard throughout the move to help him identify a suitable new property and secure planning permission for his site.”

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, Cabinet Member for Development at Rochdale Borough Council added: “This is a significant investment for the area, and emphasises Rochdale’s position as a developing growth sitefor the private sector.”