Smiley Monroe Production Managers DecIan McGrady and Peter Blair beside some of the company's new Equipment. US3308-122A0 Picture By: Aidan O'Reilly

A LISBURN company has announced a hi-tech investment which will create jobs for the area.

Smiley Monroe, a leading supplier of conveyor belting, has invested �300k in technology.

This has also created eight new jobs at the Knockmore Hill production facility - the firm employs about 130 people in total, based in Northern Ireland, the Republic and England. Marketing Manager Tim Monroe said this planned investment is to support Smiley Monroe's year-on-year growth.

"This latest �300k investment in technology includes our third high spec rubber cutting machine and bespoke vulcanising presses for making 'endless' short rubber conveyor belts and will allow us to double our output over the next six months" he said.

"This modernisation of our production facility is part of our ongoing commitment to continuously improve our processes, products and services through lean manufacturing principles.

"Our client executive at Invest NI, Claire McLoughlin, has been a great help advising the Company during the whole process of improving our capability and increasing efficiencies, and by providing assistance with Trade Missions, the Interim Manager Programme and the 'Compete' Scheme.

"Smiley Monroe has always invested in its people, which we believe is the key to our success. And we're always on the lookout for new talent - we currently have an undergraduate working with us for the summer from the school of Mechanical Engineering at Queens University Belfast."

jenny.monroe@jpress.co.uk

Ulster Star
22/08/2008