Manufacturer Lontra has launched its first phase of a recruitment drive for the 300 employees it aims to welcome to a new £17m smart factory at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The Midlands company develops, manufactures and exports high value industrial machinery for critical sectors, and the new base will create products for world-wide food manufacture, pharmaceutical products and water treatment, among others. Its award-winning Blade Compressor technology brings major efficiency to energy intensive operations.

To meet anticipated demand the business is investing, supported by £7 million from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

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A long-term letting on the 59,271 sq ft building, part of Avion Business Park, was completed with Trebor Developments in May.

Over the next six months, the facility will undergo an extensive fit out throughout the shop floor and offices. Now attention turns to building the team that will be behind the rotary compressor equipment.

Steve Lindsey, chief executive, said “Lontra’s success is absolutely rooted in our people. Our core culture is one of openness and fairness and we strive to maintain this as every person at Lontra is a key part of driving towards our goal of becoming a global industry leader.”

The company has partnered with Elevation Recruitment Group, who will manage the recruitment process for the Doncaster site.

John Bohan, senior director, said: “Partnering with a company that has such an incredible reputation in the engineering and manufacturing space is something, I personally take with great pride. The expertise and networks we have across the specialist sectors required for these roles, will enable us to find the most valuable people for Lontra.

“I speak for the whole of the Elevation team when I say, we are truly excited for this partnership.”

The first phase of the campaign will include the search for a HR manager, facilities manager, purchasing manager, QHSE manager, supply quality engineer, buyer, quality engineer, IT support, production supervisors, teams leaders and skilled operatives in machining, assembly and testing.