LONTRA ANNOUNCES NEW SMART FACTORY IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Published 29 October 2021 at 3:38pm

Lontra, the innovative developer, manufacturer and exporter of high value industrial machinery for critical industries is opening a £17m Smart Factory in South Yorkshire, generating a world-class manufacturing line.

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) will partner with Lontra to support the new Smart Factory based in Doncaster, by providing a grant and loan package totalling over £7m through the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund*, with approximately £10m of private sector match funding by Lontra.

The opening of the factory highlights an important partnership between South Yorkshire MCA and Lontra, who share the same focus for sustainable growth and a commitment to supporting innovation and skills development, whilst providing greener and smarter manufacturing solutions. The partnership will contribute to the region’s growth, creating over 300 new jobs with more across the regional supply chain, operating Lontra’s global exports base for their energy saving compressor machine.

Lontra’s factory brings together three unified initiatives: regeneration, reliable and electric compressor production, whilst setting a standard for the future of all critical industries using industrial compressed air systems.

The factory space, an impressive 105,035 square footage, will manufacture energy saving products for world-wide food manufacture, pharmaceutical products and water treatment, amongs others.  These high value products will be exported globally through Lontra’s international distribution network with distribution agreements secured.

Mayor of South Yorkshire, Dan Jarvis MP MBE said: 

“This is an exciting example of a UK innovator investing in South Yorkshire – further enhancing our reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing.  The new smart factory will play a significant role in developing our economic plan for a stronger, greener and fairer region. It will create hundreds of great new jobs and boost our productivity and global exports.”

Steve Lindsey, Executive Chair of Lontra said:

“We are thrilled to open our first factory in the region with the support of South Yorkshire MCA. This is a region that’s incredibly progressive and we are proud to be a part of their innovation story. 
“We are honoured to bring a commitment of long-term innovation and economic growth, both for Lontra as a business and for South Yorkshire. This is fantastic example of how South Yorkshire MCA, is supporting innovative SME’s to generate long term economic growth, high value job creation and drive UK exports.”

About Lontra

Lontra was founded in 2004 in Warwickshire. It pioneered a step change in compressor technology by designing a new patented geometry, the Lontra Blade Compressor, which is a machine at the heart of many industrial processes. Its innovative design means that it leaks less, uses less energy and is more reliable than traditional machines of this type. Lontra works with many industries including water treatment, food production, pharmaceutical, chemical and cement manufacture.  The company has a manufacturing plant in Tylesley, Birmingham.

About the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund 

*The South Yorkshire Renewal Fund seeks to deliver the ambitions of South Yorkshire’s Renewal Action Plan (RAP) and Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) with £339m of direct investment into the region.   The fund aims to create a Stronger, Greener, Fairer South Yorkshire for all.  
For more information about why Sheffield City Region is a great place to live, work and invest visit www.scrinvest.com.