THE Goodflex Rubber Company, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of rubber hoses, mouldings and assemblies, has officially opened its new factory extension at Honeybourne.

The purpose-built extension, which has doubled the size of the company’s facility, will enable Goodflex to create and maintain up to 50 jobs in the area and also means it can increase production capacity and efficiency while investing in new technology and research and development.

The £300,000 investment was supported by up to 20 per cent from funding secured from the Gloucester Local Enterprise Partnership and industrial support organisation The Growth Hub.

Rachel Eade, director of the Manufacturing Hub, said: "I first met Goodflex managing director Mark Dufty and the team almost a year ago when

received the call at the then Manufacturing Advisory Service that Goodflex were looking for help as they wanted to grow and expand. There was a plan in place but in terms of kick-starting that plan and making it happen they engaged with us in terms of how we could help and that was where the introduction came into the Growth Hub and the SEED funding that has helped support this.”

Mr Dufty added: "This extension doubles the size of the Goodflex Rubber Company facility but nearly 14 years ago to the day my first customer came to see me in Unit 4, Weston Industrial Estate and it was nothing like it is today. I had walked away from a job with a company car, pension, private health and what seemed like total security to be in an empty unit with nothing. And just to put a bit of extra spice on it my wife was expecting our second child, so talk about up against it. Well if somebody had told me that in 14 years’ time I would be stood here with what we

have achieved as a team, I would have said to you that you were totally insane and I cannot believe we have made this journey..”