News

A fire has devastated the new factory of logistics packaging specialist Daher Aerospace in Hilton, Derbyshire.

Fire services were called to the industrial estate in the early hours of 20 January to fight a fire at the company’s site. Teams were still tackling the blaze, which tore through the recently opened factory, the following lunchtime.

Gas cylinders on the site posed a particular problem for fire services and were left to cool. It is unlikely that anything will be salvaged from the building. The company described the impact of the fire as “catastrophic”.

Daher Aerospace is a specialist manufacturer of logistical packaging systems for the industrial market, operating primarily in the defence and aerospace industries.

Daher took possession of the Hilton factory, its only UK site, in October 2006 and started production in December.

Daher spokesman Mark Broughton told Packaging News that two of the company’s management team were out on the road hunting for replacement premises.

The company invested £7m in the Hilton site (pictured), excluding tooling which was brought over from its previous premises. It expects the cost of replacement facilities to exceed this amount.

But Broughton said there was no risk to employees’ jobs. “Nobody is even thinking that jobs are at risk here. The new site is going to be as close as possible to where we are now.

“We are devastated by the fire, but very grateful that no one was injured. We are doing everything to get up and running as soon as possible.”

Investigations into the cause of the fire were ongoing as Packaging News went to press.