York-based Portakabin creates 30 jobs as it expands in Europe

Portakabin plans to create further jobs following a major investment in its UK manufacturing facility.

A spokesman said: "Combining the latest automation technology and robotics, with the skills of a specialist team of architects, designers and engineers, Alta buildings have been specifically designed for the European hire market and to meet demand, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors, for premium, spacious and energy-efficient temporary buildings.

Steve Newell, the design and engineering director for Portakabin in the UK, said: “The culmination of extensive collaboration with our partners in Europe, Alta buildings take modular construction to the next level for our customer base across Europe.

"Alta means high which is a great reflection of the taller, more spacious and airy spaces created by the design.

“We already have an extensive suite of highly successful buildings in Europe, however, working closely with our colleagues in France, we’ve created a solution to meet the growing demand for premium, spacious and energy-efficient temporary buildings on the continent.

"Our new product completes this, offering the most extensive range of modular buildings in Europe.

“The result is that we have created a factory fit for the future, combining the very latest technology with the very best people and this was all done – to the highest safety standards – during a pandemic.

"What’s more, these new manufacturing techniques can be adapted so that our Alta buildings can be replicated across Europe, allowing for further expansion across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.”

Cyril Petit-Masquelier, President of Portakabin France, added: “These buildings are designed to meet the requirements for temporary buildings, but we’re getting feedback from our customers that they actually don’t want to leave.

“For our customers in the healthcare and education sectors in particular, its compliance with the highest insulation and fire safety standards is crucial and we’re also getting incredible feedback regarding the solid floor feel – our floor loadings are almost twice as much compared with standard modular buildings – together with the higher ceilings and larger windows and doors, adds to the overall feeling of a robust, quality building and comfortable, light, welcoming space."

The manufacturing facility in York has created 30 jobs in the UK and 15 in France, with further recruitment planned due to the increased manufacturing output.

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