Scottish window, door and curtain walling designer, manufacturer and installer, CMS Window Systems, has significantly expanded its manufacturing operations with the opening of a new 8,500 sq. ft. factory in Kirkcaldy.

The investment of over half a million pounds has also boosted capacity at its long-established recycling plant in the Fife town.

The state-of-the-art new factory will be utilised for the production of doors, to add manufacturing capacity as CMS Window Systems experiences record growth fuelled by rising demand from housebuilders, social housing providers, trade customers and main contractors across Scotland and increasingly UK-wide.

A number of new manufacturing jobs will be created, including employing two new apprentices which takes the total number of Modern Apprenticeships created by CMS to over 100 since the business started in 2006.

The new factory opening comes as CMS Window Systems appoints David Ritchie as its new CEO. David takes the helm after six months as Chief Operating Officer in a move that enables previous CEO and business founder Andy Kerr to take up a new role as Deputy Chairman.

Officially opened by David Torrance MSP at a launch event attended by senior representatives from Fife Council and Cllr. Judy Hamilton, the new factory will initially produce around 200 PVCu door-sets every week. Its portfolio of products will ultimately include composite doors and fire doors offering 30 or 60 minutes of fire protection. This new factory complements the main 36,000 sq. ft. CMS Window Systems operation in Cumbernauld, where it manufactures thousands of PVCu and aluminium windows and doors every week.

In addition, the 2017 Queen’s Award for Enterprise winning business has also expanded its recycling plant on the Kirkcaldy site. This has provided additional capacity for processing post-use windows and doors as part of its unique ‘closed loop’ promise which ensures virtually all waste frames, glass and metal hardware from replacement projects and manufacturing is directed away from landfill to be re-used in new products.

Speaking at the official opening, David Torrance MSP said: “It’s fantastic to see this investment in new manufacturing jobs here in Kirkcaldy and I’m delighted that CMS Window Systems has chosen the town as the location for its new factory. It’s an extremely welcome move which will enable CMS to benefit from a high quality local workforce and Kirkcaldy’s excellent location for serving the whole of Scotland.”

David Ritchie, CEO of CMS Window Systems, said: “We’re delighted to be opening our new production facility in Kirkcaldy and providing career opportunities in this area. Our investment strengthens our place in a community that we have been part of for more than a decade as the main window and door partner to Fife Council for its social housing programmes, as well as being involved with many local school building projects and the construction of the Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries.”

The creation of new Modern Apprenticeships at the new Kirkcaldy factory is a key strand of the business strategy of CMS Window Systems. The company is renowned UK-wide for its track record in providing employment opportunities for young people, and for being one of the first businesses in the window and door industry to become a Scottish Living Wage Employer.

CMS Window Systems continues to be one of Scotland’s fastest growing manufacturing businesses, now employing more than 250 people. It has been at the forefront of sustainable windows and doors through its ‘closed loop’ approach driven by its manufacture of 100% recyclable products and award-winning recycling systems for re-processing post-use windows and doors. For the last three years, the company has been backed by mid-market private equity investor LDC, when it secured a significant minority investment to further support the business’ expansion across Scotland and England.