Work on Qioptiq’s new £3.7m purpose designed manufacturing and warehousing facility in St Asaph – which is supported by Welsh Government investment – is now underway and will ensure Qioptiq, an Excelitas Technology Company, has the additional capacity needed to deliver a major £82m MoD contract within the required timescales.

The start of work was officially launched today (Thursday June 22) at a ground breaking event with Economy Secretary Ken Skates, Qioptiq MD Peter White and representatives from Read Construction which secured the design and build contract.

The Welsh Government is investing £1.7m to build the 24,900 sq. ft. secure facility on land it owns adjacent to Qioptiq’s existing premises on St Asaph Business Park.

The development is due to be completed by the end of the year when Qioptiq will lease the building and invest £2m in fit out, security and IT systems, bringing the total investment to £3.7m.

Under the six year MoD contract Qioptiq will be the sole strategic supplier for the MoD’s entire fleet of Surveillance and Target Acquisition equipment – it will supply and maintain more than 280,000 items of highly sensitive optical equipment.

Ken Skates said:

“Winning this key contract was a huge coup for the company and for Wales and reflects the expertise of its highly skilled workforce.

It’s great to see work is now underway as this expansion will create on-going economic benefits for the region and secure the long term sustainable future of this advanced manufacturing company in Wales.

Excelitas’ Qioptiq is a key Anchor company, a major employer in North Wales and one of the most innovative and dynamic businesses in Wales.

The Welsh Government supported Qioptiq’s successful bid from the early pre-qualification stage and our continued support and investment in these new facilities will ensure the company has the capacity it needs to deliver such a significant contract.”