New factory for IAE as part of £15m expansion

IAE,  the UK’s leading manufacturer of livestock handling equipment, equestrian stabling, steel fencing and shelters. is set to create more than 50 new jobs as part of a £15 million expansion.

The company is transforming its 38-acre Mossfield Road headquarters, in Adderley Green, with the construction of a purpose-built factory, a visitor centre and a new powder coating plant.

It will see IAE’s 450-strong workforce – which is based across two sites in Adderley Green and Cheadle – brought together under one roof. The new jobs are expected to be created on the back of the development which is set for completion at the end of the year.

Managing director Frank Klucznik – whose grandfather set up the company more than 50 years ago – said: “The development site is a former colliery which we bought in 2014. We have spent the last two years undertaking some major remediation work, but now we are ready to progress.

Our plans include a purpose-built factory, to expand our manufacturing capacity, and a visitor centre which will double up as a training facility for our staff and apprentices.

“The second phase will see a new powder coating factory built at the bottom end of the site. We currently out-source all of our powder coating work to Manchester and Leeds, but the new building will mean we can bring that in-house.”

Frank added: “When I joined the business in 1999 we were operating across six sites in Leek, Milton, Cheadle and Adderley Green and we had about 200 employees. It was always the dream to bring everyone onto one site and it’s really exciting to know that it’s finally happening. The 40 staff we have based in Cheadle are aware of our vision and are onboard with what we are doing here.”

The family-run company was established in Leek in 1969 by Polish war hero Frank Klucznik Senior. The business started off producing its own-brand farming equipment, but it soon diversified into new sectors including fencing.