Kärcher UK – a leading global manufacturer of cleaning equipment – is moving to a new UK headquarters.
The German company, which makes a range of high pressure washers, vacuum cleaners and other cleaning equipment, is to move to a new 84,500 sq ft complex at Banbury Point in Banbury, created by land owners and developers A C Lloyd.
A C Lloyd, the Leamington-based property company, and Minns Network Developments, the Oxford-based Development Managers, are currently undertaking a tendering process on the construction contract with work expected to commence at the site close to Junction 11 of the M40, in the late spring or early summer. It is due to be completed at the end of 2015.
The three storey building is being constructed on the prime 6.5 acre site and will almost double the size of Kärcher’s current base on Beaumont Road in Banbury and will feature offices, an academy, a retail centre and training facilities along with a warehouse and workshop section to allow for expansion.
The company – which celebrates its 80th year in 2015 – has been based in Banbury since 1978, during which time the firm has grown from an eight strong team to employ almost 300 people. Its product range encompasses 380 machines across 13 product lines, and in 2013 alone it introduced more than 100 new products.
Des Wynne, director at A C Lloyd, said: “This is a highly prominent site close to the M40 and we are delighted to have attracted a global operator such as Kärcher UK as major occupier.
“The company is already a significant employer in the town so it is great that it has chosen to remain in Banbury in what will be a bespoke building which will serve a very wide range of uses and, through elements such as its expanded academy, will bring new employment into the area.
“We are looking forward to creating a complex which will allow the company to continue to grow and thrive in the local area, and will be an asset to Banbury.”
The development will include Banbury’s first Kärcher Centre – a one-stop-shop for both domestic and commercial customers, offering sales, service and advice for the entire Kärcher range – and also the expansion of the Kärcher Academy, a market-leading training facility for customers, distributors and employees.
Simon Keeping, Managing Director of Kärcher UK, said: “While Kärcher is renowned for our commercial and domestic pressure washers, other products are increasingly coming to the fore – among them our window vacs, steam cleaners and professional floor care solutions.
“These are exciting times and this opportunity, afforded by the company’s expansion, is testament to the quality inherent in Kärcher – not only of our products but of our team and its ethos too.
“In order to maintain continuity amidst our growth and retain key Kärcher knowhow, remaining near to our Banbury roots was crucial. Indeed the new site is only one mile from the old, albeit the environment will be very different.”
A C Lloyd is using Minns Network DM as its development managers on the project and has been advised by GVA and Brown & Co, while Kärcher UK has been advised by White Commercial.
