Insider Media Limited

Fracino, which says it is the only manufacturer of cappuccino and espresso machines in the UK, has expanded by doubling the size of its premises. The Birmingham-based company has also invested £250,000 in new machinery.

Fracino has purchased an additional 24,000 sq ft of workshop and office space – bringing the total workspace to 45,000 sq ft. Located next door to the company’s current premises, the new property will house Fracino’s latest investment in sheet metal and form bending machines.

Representing a £250,000 outlay, the new machinery aims to help the company manufacture more of its components in-house which is says is a significant achievement in a climate where British manufacturers are increasingly relying on suppliers from outside the UK.

The company has also recruited four new employees to staff the new site.

Fracino distributes its products to a customer base of 700, and has extended its export reach to 15 new countries in the last 12 months.

Adrian Maxwell, managing director of Fracino, said: "This significant growth and investment will enable us to manufacture component parts on-site and on-demand, which will prove more time effective and remove the need to store bulky component parts.

"We have achieved unprecedented success in the last 12 months, boosting exports by 20 per cent and accelerating turnover by 15 per cent. We’ve also been commissioned by Costa Coffee to design and manufacture a new ‘knock-out’ drawer for their UK outlets. We will continue to build on these dynamic achievements throughout 2011, with more exciting plans in the pipeline."