Smiths Metal Centres is set to open its first service centre in Northern Ireland following a major commercial investment of almost £500,000.

The new 7,500 sq ft facility in Titanic Quarter’s Channel Commercial Park will stock plate, sheet and bar products including a full range of ferrous and non-ferrous materials. Cut plate and bar will be processed on site.

Smiths Metal Centres is a multi-metal stockholder supplying a wide range of engineering materials to global industry. With a range of more than 8,000 stocked products, it specialises in offering customer service, quality and value.

Located five minutes from George Best Belfast City Airport and with direct access to the region’s two main motorways, Channel Commercial Park in Titanic Quarter attracts a diverse range of businesses keen to base and expand their operations in Northern Ireland.

Smiths Belfast will open in November 2018 and it will be the company’s fourteenth UK service centre.

Maria McGranaghan, sales manager at Smiths Metal Centres, said:

“We continue to invest in our UK service centre network and the new Belfast facility is further evidence of our ethos of providing local material stock with local expertise. Smiths Belfast will help the company to build stronger relationships with our customers by extending our stock portfolio to both Northern Ireland and Ireland.

“The site location at Titanic Quarter was specifically chosen due to its close proximity to the motorway

network which offers easy access to our customers and quicker delivery times. Northern Ireland has benefited greatly from international investment in recent times and boasts numerous successful businesses in the engineering sector.”

James Eyre, commercial director at Titanic Quarter, said:

“We are delighted that Smiths Metal Centres have chosen Titanic Quarter to set up their first Northern Ireland service centre. The strategic location was a key deciding factor for Smiths and we look forward to working with the team as they prepare for the opening.  Smiths is the latest addition to the growing portfolio of businesses in Channel Commercial Park who are developing their local, national and international operations.”

Commercial property agents Lisney and CBRE have been jointly appointed by Titanic Quarter to market Channel Commercial Park.

Andrew Gawley, director at Lisney Belfast, acted on this transaction. He commented:

“High profile Channel Commercial Park tenants already include Amazon, Neill’s Flour and BLK BOX, and Smiths Metal Centres is a great addition to Channel Commercial Park and will mark the company’s entrance to the Northern Ireland market.

“The accessible location of Channel Commercial Park makes this a strategic and excellent base for Smiths Metal Centres.

“The Park continues to strongly appeal to a range of potential occupiers from industries such as warehousing, manufacturing, TV production and logistics, mainly due to its size and location.