Wrexham Business Undergoes ‘Major Investment and Expansion’

A Wrexham business which supplies animal bedding to farmers throughout the UK has undergone a major investment and expansion which is creating jobs and increasing capacity.

R A & C E Platt Ltd (Platts Animal Bedding) which is based on Wrexham’s Llay Industrial Estate, has invested nearly £1m in new head offices, the upgrading of its ICT systems, the design and build of new canteen/welfare facilities and has equipped and opened a new HGV Commercial Garage- which is working towards a VOSA approved testing facility.

The company’s new Headquarters was supported by £102,230 from the Wales Economic Growth Fund and has already created eight new jobs and safeguarded another eleven. There are also additional new posts planned for the telesales team.

An additional £250,000 investment this year in new bulk-loading technology will also create further jobs within its Transport division.

Speaking about the investment into the company, Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “It’s always good news to hear of Welsh businesses investing, expanding and creating jobs and I am pleased the Welsh Government was able to support this substantial expansion which is bringing significant benefits to the region.”

The expansion will increase capacity and create efficiencies at the family owned business, which was founded in 1973 by Robert and Christine Platt and now run by daughter, Managing Director Caroline Thedens.

The growing demand for their range of products – which includes seven specialised bedding products for dairy cattle and three products for the equine and poultry markets – has been the catalyst to reinvest in technology.

Platts are the only manufacturer specialising in this field in Wales and currently sources its wood residues – and sells its finished products – in the UK but plan to explore importing and exporting opportunities this year.

Caroline Thedens said: “We operate at the forefront of the industry and are committed to constantly growing our business, developing our technologies and improving our products to consistently deliver the quality and reliability we know our customers expect.

“We have invested heavily in providing environmentally sustainable animal bedding solutions to our customers, offering a range of recycled wood products. Support from the Welsh Government enabled us to accelerate our expansion and I don’t think we would have achieved what we have done within the timeframe without this help.”

The new garage, which opened in November 2015, is open for third-party servicing and maintenance and also provides Platts with a cost effective method of maintaining its own branded fleet of vehicles, including articulated moving floor trailers, rigid flat-deck lorry vehicles and 100 filtration trailers.

The company, which currently employs 46 people, has a buy local policy and its investment and expansion is already benefiting local suppliers, many of whom are based on the same industrial estate.