Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond has opened Power Jacks’ new £6m headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, saying that the company’s success “should point the way for other firms in this country”.

Salmond (on the right in the photo, below) said that Power Jacks’ global success was “contributing significantly to the Scottish export industry” and that he was “absolutely thrilled” to be opening the new HQ. "It is fabulous to see a Scottish manufacturing company that has its origins in 1903 and was established in its present form in 1987, continue not just to thrive, but expand, develop and grow.”

Power Jacks’ managing director, Bruce Bultitude (on the left) said that the company was “entering an exciting new era” and that the new HQ would “significantly enhance our operations around the world”. The new site includes 3,716m² of manufacturing, assembly and warehousing space, and 930m² of office space.

Power Jacks specialises in producing industrial lifting and positioning equipment, including screwjacks, gearboxes and actuators. It is the only company in the UK and one of only around six in the world with a thread-grinding capability for manufacturing planetary rollerscrews.

Power Jacks’ move to the new premises was a response to its overseas sales increasing by 246% between 2007 and 2009, which led to the company being awarded a Queen’s Award for Business Enterprise. The company has more than 5,000 customers in more than 60 countries, including Airbus, BAE, Cadbury, Diageo, Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Glaxo, ICI, Rolls Royce and Unilever.