AN AIRCRAFT repair company is taking advantage of the enormous growth in aviation in Southend by opening up a bigger base.

Rotable Repairs, which has been running for more than ten years in Southend, has moved to a new workshop in Progress Road, Eastwood.

The base was once home to Jegs, the well-known electrical, DIY, houseware and garden distribution company.

The firm serves as one of the UK’s leading providers of wheel and brake maintenance repair and overhaul maintenance for aircrafts.

The aircraft wheel and brake specialists have expanded over the years and now have 60 staff ranging from engineers to office workers.

Richard Gardiner, managing director of Rotable Repairs Ltd, said: “Finally having all of our workshop departments under one roof has allowed us to re-focus our staff and make a concentrated effort to fully utilise the range of improvements we’ve invested in over the last 12 months.

“This has been a momentous effort by our management, staff and contractors and for their assistance, we give our thanks.”

The company has also enjoyed recent investment from overseas.

Rotable Repairs is now set to triple its capacity with the new building measuring up at 49,000 square feet.

The facility houses a production line, new spring testers, wheel greasers, nitrogen system, inflation cages, automatic wheel inflation and a new spray shop – it is eight times the size of the original base.

Training and technology have also seen investment as the management team feel it is important the influx of staff should benefit from training and from experience gained over time.

Up to 200 of the company’s clients will be there to celebrate the official opening on August 2.