A well-established Hull firm, Lazenby Group, is set to create up to 30 new jobs following a £650,000 investment aimed at fuelling expansion.
The company, based on the city's Sutton Fields Industrial Estate, specialises in manufacturing self-service kiosks used by customers at fast food restaurants and major retailers such as Argos, among other high street locations. The business, which currently employs 28 people, claims to have developed the world's first self-cleaning, self-service kiosks, which it plans to market globally.
The investment has been secured from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). This £650,000 sum has paved the way for the firm to expand production with a new facility in Hull, reports .
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An additional assembly line for its SafeTouch kiosks will be housed in a new 8,000 sqft factory at its headquarters. The product ueses ultraviolet C (UVC) light to eliminate germs between uses.
Thanks to a significant contract win with Collins Aerospace, which provides services to airports worldwide, the technology is already being used at airports. Over the next five years, the forthcoming production line is expected to generate new jobs as the product is marketed to customers in busy retail environments where infection can easily spread.
Neil Sewell, managing director, said: "Self-service kiosks are increasingly popular but have to be cleaned regularly by hand. Our SafeTouch technology kills germs automatically in just 38 seconds without any human intervention or harsh chemicals and has attracted international attention. The funding will help us increase capacity and work towards our goal to become the largest original equipment manufacturer of kiosks in Europe."
Lazenby Group was established in the early 1960s by sheet metal processor Paul Lazenby. It was purchased in the mid-1990s when Mr Lazenby retired and businessman Bill Neale, a specialist in gaming machines, stepped in and us used Lazenby to manufacture coin mechanisms.
Since Mr Neale's death three years ago the firm has been managed by longstanding employees, husband and wife Neil and Dawn Sewell.
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Rebecca Pickering of Mercia Debt added: "Lazenby has gone from a small metal processor to a market-leading kiosk manufacturer. The company has a history of innovation and its latest product is set to disrupt the industry. We are pleased to help the company to step up production and roll it out worldwide."
Lizzy Upton, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, commented: "Lazenby Group is a fantastic example of the type of innovation and ambition we're proud to support through NPIF II. From its base in Hull, the company is not only transforming how self-service technology operates but is also scaling globally with its groundbreaking SafeTouch kiosk. This investment demonstrates how regional businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber can drive international growth while creating skilled jobs and boosting local economies."
Andrew Bradley at Humber Business Growth Hub offered fundraising guidance to Lazenby.
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) spans the entire North of England and delivers loans ranging from £25k to £2m alongside equity investment up to £5m to assist various small and medium-sized enterprises in launching, expanding or maintaining their competitive edge.