Fenestration systems designer and manufacturer Senior Architectural Systems is set to invest £1 million in its North Yorkshire glass production facility as the firm continues to enhance its robust presence in the marketplace.

Senior, which manufactures high quality glazed units at the 40,000 square foot Scarborough base, is to install a heat soaking oven and commercial furnace at the site, while also remodelling the building. Funding for Senior’s expansion has been provided by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership’s Business Grant Programme, with money from the Regional Growth Fund. The grant will help to create between 10 and 15 jobs. 

The heat soaking oven will allow Senior to bring a vigorous quality assurance technique in-house to reduce the risk of installed glass becoming damaged by the rare nickel sulphide phenomenon.

Installing the oven will allow Senior to take on new clients who demand the technique, and therefore encourage further business expansion.

Meanwhile, the commercial furnace will bring a further boost to Senior by increasing glass system production by an estimated 60%, so the firm will have the capacity to produce an increased number of toughened units in order to meet high demand from existing and potential clients.

Michelle Damms, operations director, said: “This heavy investment in new machinery and a remodelled plant will ensure that Senior continues to exceed the expectations of clients, and will also help us to further expand our client base.

“With these developments, we will be able to produce a higher number of glass units than ever before and assure our clients they are of the highest quality following rigorous in-house testing.”

Barry Dodd CBE, chair of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This is exactly the kind of innovation we like to see in our businesses. The Business Grant Programme was set up to make it easier for visionary companies to expand and take on staff and Senior have done just that. By expanding and developing their own abilities and capacity, Senior should be able to attract new clients, continue to create new jobs, and show themselves to be a success story that we can all be proud of.”