Goodrich to expand Wolverhampton site

Midland aerospace giant Goodrich today announced expansion plans after securing new multi-million pound contracts and announcing soaring profits.

Bosses have revealed they are drawing up a series of proposals to expand the firm's plant off Stafford Road, in Wolverhampton.

Goodrich spokeswoman Harriet Wollerton said: "As part of the Wolverhampton site expansion programme, we are exploring multiple options to accommodate additional capacity.

"As plans are finalised, we will provide additional information." She said full details of the project, including exact costs and the number of jobs the expansion would create, will be revealed over the coming months.

The ambitions for Goodrich Actuation Systems will boost Wolverhampton City Council's plan to turn the Stafford Road into a buzzing industrial zone.

The authority wants to see 3,000 jobs created along the 'Stafford Road Corridor', in addition to the hundreds due to be created at the neighbouring i54 site on the border of South Staffordshire.

The expansion plans have been announced just weeks after Goodrich Actuation Systems reported a 12 per cent profit rise, up to £60 million, plus sales up 17 per cent to £496 million.

And in July last year, the firm won a multi-million pound contract with aeroplane manufacturer Embraer which was expected to safeguard jobs in Wolverhampton for up to 40 years.

The firm took on an extra 200 people at the Wolverhampton site in Fordhouses to cope with the extra business, bringing the workforce up to 1,300.

By Charlotte Cross