Wood & Douglas on the right wavelength (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Wood & Douglas on the right wavelength

10:47am Thursday 15th December 2011 in Business By Richard Garfield

A MILLION-pound technology manu-facturing centre has been opened by North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young.

Sir George, who is also Leader of the House of Commons, unveiled a plaque commemorating the event at Woods & Douglas’ surface mount technology centre, at Young’s Industrial Estate, Paices Hill, between Tadley and Aldermaston.

With a turnover of around £7million, Wood & Douglas is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality customised wireless products and services.

It produces innovative products used by multi-national corporations, utilities companies and Government agencies all over the world.

These include remote surveillance and monitor-ing devices, helping railway operators to prevent cable theft, and portable radio communications equipment for anti-piracy operations at sea.

Wood & Douglas also works with a number of homeland security agencies in various countries, helping them to develop new means of monitoring and managing information.

The new facility, which has resulted in five new jobs with the potential of more to come, will allow the wireless specialist to triple its manufacturing capabilities.

Headquartered in Baughurst, Wood & Douglas, employs more than 65 people at its four sites across the south and has made the investment to develop the new technology centre to service increased demand from its customers both in the UK and abroad.

Impressed with what he saw, Sir George told a gathering of staff, guests and customers that Wood & Douglas’ success demonstrates that focused British manufacturers can build and grow, even in an uncertain economic environment.

He said: “I want to remind you that the UK is competitive in world markets and manufacturing. Forty per cent of your output goes overseas and it shows that we can compete in world markets on a level playing field with some big players.”

Referring to media coverage of the current economic situation, Sir George said some people may feel that British industry is in decline.

Upbeat, he said: “There are areas of growth and expansion, and generators of new employment within the overall economy such as what’s hap-pened here. As a MP, it is a real pleasure to come along and formally open this new facility which is going to provide more jobs for local people.”

In declaring the facility open on behalf of the government, Sir George congratulated the comp-any’s joint founder and managing director Alan Wood of what he and his team have achieved.

The company which boasts the likes of De Beers, BP and Shell as customers, also announced an £80,000 deal with technology company Vix.

A delighted Mr Wood said: “Growth of 25 per cent in our last financial year has facilitated this investment, and the opening of this surface mount technology centre marks the start of a new era, enabling the company to significantly increase production in the area.”

Mr Wood also said: “We have a belief that manu-facturing should be here in the UK and that manu-facturing is the only way to create wealth that is tangible and meaningful for ourselves, our families and the country.”

Mr Wood praised his employees, and said: “Here at Wood & Douglas, I am proud to be associated with an extraordinary team of people, who are highly-skilled and highly-motivated.”