Expansion for Lucion

The company, which provides asbestos surveying, laboratory analysis, air testing and training services, has completed a £250,000 development of its laboratory at its Gateshead-based headquarters and extended its regional operations with the opening of three new offices.

The move to bigger premises in Wolverhampton, a new office opening in Bristol and the relocation of the East Anglia operation to a larger new site in Letchworth will significantly boost the company’s capacity as it looks to grow turnover in the next 12 months, and increase the scope of the asbestos management and health and safety training offered to customers.

Lucion provides environmental risk management services to the construction, utilities, infrastructure, marine, oil and gas, and the health care sectors. It also undertakes the surveying of soil for contaminated land projects.

The new laboratory facility features a state-of-the-art scanning electron microscope that will enable the firm to be a leader among UK asbestos management companies providing specialist testing such as fire treated asbestos fibres.

The move comes as the firm, which currently employs 170 people and has an £11m turnover, is currently looking to recruit and train additional analysts to meet demand and underpin the drive for growth.

The asbestos market for surveying and air testing work is worth £240 million nationally, with a further increase predicted in the future.

Lucion’s managing director Dr Patrick Morton said the business is busier than ever and is now looking to support growth across all markets.

He added: "We have the strong foundations and plans in place to take us forward over the next few years to secure our turnover target.

"So with these new investments, the availability of the best technology and our growing team of experts, we will continue to develop our position as market leaders and secure the needs of our customers.”

Lucion specialises in surveying, air testing, laboratory services and consultancy relating to asbestos in sectors ranging from healthcare and education through to offshore decommissioning and contaminated land projects. The group operates from eight strategic locations around the country.