Steel Facility is Sign of Confidence in Greater Lincolnshire

8/22/2012 11:33 AM EST

Ursula Lidbetter 2

This decision is further brilliant news for Lincoln and one which strengthens the city’s reputation as a centre of engineering excellence

Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnsire LEP

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed a decision by City of Lincoln Council to give the green light to plans which will create 100 new jobs in the city.

Councillors gave permission on Wednesday (15th August) to specialist Italian engineering firm Bifrangi  to build a new steel forge and install a 27,000-tonne screw press on the 22-hectare former Smith-Clayton Forge site on Monks Road in the city.

The screw press will be the first of its kind in England and one of only a few in the world.

“This decision is further brilliant news for Lincoln and one which strengthens the city’s reputation as a centre of engineering excellence,” said Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“Bifrangi is an extremely well regarded company which is demonstrating its confidence in Greater Lincolnshire by bringing even more high-value, high-skill employment to the area.”

Italian-owned Bifrangi, which supplies parts to the power generation industry, expects to start the installation of its new screw press in October.

The advanced technology will enable the company to expand its product range and compete globally in the off highway, power generation, aerospace, civil and military industries.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is a new body led by the private sector which aims to improve conditions for infrastructure and doing business in the Greater Lincolnshire area.

• One of the first LEPs to be established in the UK, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP covers a large geographical area with a population of over one million and a diverse range of industries, from ports and logistics to farming, tourism and engineering.

• It includes North and North-East Lincolnshire and is controlled by a LEP board made up of leading figures in the public and private sector.

• For more information about the Greater Lincolnshire LEP please contact Ruth Carver or Carolyn Tuscher at the LEP Secretariat on 01522 550515, or visit www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk

• Bifrangi is a family-owned firm which began life near Venice at the beginning of the 19th century. To find out more visit www.bifrangi.it