At GestampTallent yesterday Nia Griffith MP had the pleasure of seeing the Welsh Government Minister for Economy and Business Edwina Hart AM opening the new hot stamping line, a very significant investment backed by Welsh Government support. The molten metal on the stamping press heats up to 900 degrees to produce stronger and lighter components than produced by the traditional cold metal pressing process. The new press has the capacity to produce two million individual parts a year and will supply structural components for the new Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover products, as well as the new Jaguar XE model.
Commenting on the opening, Nia Griffith MP said,
“I was absolutely delighted to hear the genuine commitment to Llanelli both from GestampTallent‘s UK Boss Ian Middleton and from representatives of the Spanish owners of the company. The investment in this hot stamping line, using the world’s most modern technology, has enabled the Llanelli plant to fill the order books with work for Jaguar Land Rover, and there is talk now of yet more expansion, which I would very much welcome. With over 400 employees, compared to a low of just 90 not long ago, and a real buzz about the factory, this is a far cry from the situation just a few years ago when we were fighting for the very existence of the plant, and I remember going out to Germany to plead Llanelli’s case with the previous owners. At the opening of the new line, I was also able to see the significant investment in the soundproofing of another line which should help address the concerns of local residents.”
