A Shawhead firm’s £3million expansion plans are set to create 12 new jobs.
Solway Recycling Ltd’s base was badly hit by a fire in 2020 but production was back up and running within a month.
And since then the firm has been pushing ahead with plans to install a new manufacturing facility and replace workshops and office units.
The work was handed a major boost when South of Scotland Enterprise provided £500,000 towards the project.
The funding will allow a new production line to be created to secure 21 existing jobs and create six new ones, with a further six set to be added over the next two years.
Solway Recycling founder Roy Hiddleston said: “After the fire we were determined to come back as soon as possible.
“Two years on, thanks to the dedication and hard work of all our team, we are charging on with our product manufacturing facility.
“With support from SOSE, we believe the new facility will take our business forward, help us expand our dedicated team and continue to positively contribute to the circular economy.”
Mr Hiddleston launched Solway Recycling 30 years ago to turn dirty farm plastics into other products such as pig-pens and kennels.
Its recycling service is available throughout the UK and Ireland and the firm also helps farmers comply with new waste laws.
The upgraded facilities will include a digitally controlled plastic extrusion machine which will produce different sizes and thickness of recycled plastic sheets.
Business Minister Ivan McKee, who recently toured the firm’s base, and said: “It is fantastic that Solway Recycling’s new facility is soon to be completed after the damaging fire at the company in 2020.
“This investment will help Solway Recycling expand their workforce and play their part in helping Scotland reach our commitment of net zero emissions by 2045, through their innovative and sustainable ways of working.”
Over the next five years, Solway Recycling expects to reprocess enough waste from plastics to circle the equator more than 10 times.
SOSE chairman Professor Russel Griggs said: “We know that businesses in the south of Scotland are hugely resilient, having suffered a series of back-to-back challenges in the last two years, from Covid-19, the impact of the Ukraine war and now soaring energy and fuel prices.
“I am delighted that SOSE has been able to work with them to ensure the business survives and, with its new facilities, I am sure thrives going forward.”
