Stannah, already one of the largest employers in Andover, has announced its intention to build an additional factory at Andover Business Park.

The business plans to vacate Anton Mill where it manufactures its Midilift range of platform lifts and bring stairlift and lift manufacturing together. Fabrication for both product lines will take place at Watt Close while all assembly will transfer to the new site.

With 90,000 sq ft of space the new factory will be more than 2.5 times the size of Stannah’s Watt Close manufacturing facility. The planning application will include proposals for 2200m2 of solar panels, saving 203 tons of CO2 emissions a year compared to using electricity from the grid.

“We are absolutely delighted to confirm this further investment in Andover,” comments Jon Stannah, Group Managing Director. “We are seeing continued growth across markets and the new site will allow us to cope better with ever increasing volumes. The new factory will resolve the ongoing issue of space in our factories at a stroke, giving us plenty of scope to ramp up production to respond to rising demand in the coming years.”

The new site will also allow the business to bring in house some processes, such as painting rails, that had to be outsourced in the past.

Andy Hastilow, the managing director of Stannah’s manufacturing operations, sees the move as a sign of Stannah’s continued commitment to UK manufacturing and to Andover,

“This new site is incredibly exciting for us as a business and we are thrilled that we have the opportunity to expand in Andover so close to our main site”.

Construction is expected to start this summer with completion slated for mid-2021.