Kidde Fire Protection has announced it will open a new electronics technology centre in Seaham, County Durham, in November. The new facility will increase the company’s ability to supply specialist detection products to the fire industry worldwide.
Investment in the new facility has come as a result of the re-organisation of the UTC Fire & Security EMEA (European, Middle East & Africa) region, and it has been designated the region’s centre of expertise for specialist detection products. These include HART high sensitivity smoke detection; Alarmline linear heat detection; Graviner oil mist detection systems; and Vega fire control panels. The facility will be dedicated to electronics and will replace the company’s existing plant at Peterlee, which also contained mechanical operations.
New product development will be carried out by a team of electronics engineers in co-operation with research scientists at the United Technologies research centre in Connecticut, USA, and the Kidde international research laboratory at Colnbrook in Berkshire. The site will also host the company’s training school and technical support helpline.
The centre will have a new production floor design, using equipment laid out in a way that reduces inventory, improves product travel, and reduces lead times and waste. The facility will operate a quality management system to BS EN ISO 9001:2000 in a clean room setting with electrostatic discharge control to prevent damage to electronic components.
“We are entering a new era” said managing director, Alec Nightingale. “Investment in this new world class centre demonstrates the confidence of the company in the future growth of our specialist detection business.”
