A WEST Cumbrian engineering firm has celebrated 75 years of instrumentation manufacturing in West Cumbria.
Although McMenon Engineering Services Ltd has only been in Workington for five years, the legacy it acquired from some of the biggest manufacturing names is one they are 'proud to be associated with and aim to continue'.
The story began in 1947 when Fischer and Porter, whose brand was associated with an industry-leading range of flow measurement products, acquired Maryport-based Solway Flowraters.
And nine years later they moved to Salterbeck Trading Estate, in the factory where McMenon now calls home.
Fischer and Porter were then acquired by Elsag Bailey Process Automation (EBPA) in 1994 and then consequently in 1999 they were taken over by global manufacturing giant ABB who continued to produce instrumentation on the Salterbeck site until 2018 when McMenon acquired the Workington-based business.
CEO Anand Puthran said he was immensely proud of the manufacturing heritage in West Cumbria, in which his company is now playing its part.
“This is a rich heritage and timeline, which we are now proud to take our place in," he said. "Both Fischer & Porter and ABB were household names and that is an ambition I share for McMenon.
“We are continuing the fine tradition of manufacturing flow and temperature measurement instrumentation at our Workington base.
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“But we are also diversifying our production into nuclear and renewables, as well as increasing our fabrication and pipework capabilities to leave our own part of the legacy for years to come.”
Some of McMenon’s current workforce began their careers with Fischer and Porter and can look back over a number of years at the changes within the factory and within the industry as a whole.
McMenon held an event celebrating the 75 years of manufacturing heritage at Workington’s Hunday Manor Hotel earlier this month.
The company handed out awards to many of its long serving employees, its apprentice of the year, the rising star, those who have gone above and beyond for McMenon and given valuable service.
It also thanked key partners in its supply chain for their collaboration and trust over the years.
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