Ballymena engineering manufacturer Ross Companies is committing £3.6 million to expand its operations, a move set to create 25 new roles and accelerate growth in Great Britain and Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland has offered £125,000 towards the new positions. The expansion will see the workforce rise from 29 to 54 over the next three years, reinforcing the firm's standing in industrial filtration products and engineered solutions.

Founded in 2017, Ross Companies designs, manufactures, installs, finishes and maintains industrial equipment for customers in sectors including quarrying and aggregates, cement and concrete, food and drink, animal feeds, waste, recycling and energy, and wider industrial manufacturing.

The programme includes boosting manufacturing capacity, bringing additional processes in-house and further developing the company's industrial filtration range. It also involves investment in recently acquired and refurbished premises near Ahoghill, alongside recruitment across engineering, manufacturing and management.

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William Ross, Managing Director at Ross Companies, said: "This investment reflects the confidence we have in the future growth of our business. Over the last few years, we have transformed from a small maintenance-focused operation into a multi-disciplinary engineering manufacturer serving customers across several sectors.

"Demand for our industrial filtration and engineered solutions continues to grow as businesses seek to improve efficiency and meet increasingly stringent environmental requirements. This investment will enhance our capabilities, increase capacity and support our expansion into Great Britain and Ireland, creating high-quality jobs in the local area. Invest NI's continued support has helped us build the foundations for this next phase of sustainable growth."

The latest investment builds on previous support from Invest NI through the Ambition to Grow and Grow Beyond programmes, which helped the business refine its strategy, add jobs and increase turnover. Since 2019, turnover has risen from £345,000 to approximately £3.78 million, with expectations it will exceed £5 million within two years. Iain Joannides, Head of Regional Business, Eastern Region, Invest NI, said: "Ross Companies is an example of the ambition and innovation we see among our Eastern Region client base. Since first engaging with our Eastern Regional team, the company has consistently demonstrated its ability to identify growth opportunities, invest strategically and deliver strong results.

"Building on previous Invest NI support, this investment will help Ross Companies strengthen its manufacturing capability, increase productivity and expand its presence in external markets. The creation of 25 new jobs will also deliver significant economic benefits for the local area."

The company says the expansion will advance its sustainability goals by increasing in-house processing to improve resource efficiency and reduce reliance on outsourcing. Its filtration and compliance solutions are also intended to help customers enhance environmental performance.