Aerospace company Moog today carried out a 'soft' opening of its new base at Ashchurch, just outside Tewkesbury.

After the keys were handed over last Tuesday, Punchline joined local dignitaries this morning at the celebration at the new state-of-the-art building which will be home to nearly 400 employees.

The US-based company says the new engineering and manufacturing facility represents a significant investment in Moog's UK capability and should ensure the business is well positioned to serve its aerospace customers' needs for many years to come.

People and equipment will transition over the next 12 months as operations condense from three smaller buildings to work under one roof.

Michael Schaff, president of commercial aircraft for Moog,  told Punchline: "It's a fantastic day. We are absolutely thrilled to have this new facility. We love being here in Tewkesbury and we.are looking forward to many many more great years

"If you look at this beautiful building, it's a reflection of Moog's commitment to the people who have worked so diligently and hard over for so many years and continue to build our business. It's also a commitment to this community and the efforts that have been happening over many years to make it a thriving and a great place to work. I also think this amazing building is a reflection of Moog's commitment to its customers which meets their needs every single day."

With the project starting in 2019, Mr Schaff added: "I take my hat off to the leadership across the company that even during the trying and challenging times of the pandemic they looked to the long-term future of the business.

"This business supports both the commercial marketplace and the military marketplace and in both cases we are continuing to see growth. It's a great place to be right now."

The building is expected to receive BREEAM excellent environmental accreditation while allowing Moog to house its growing engines and flight controls business in a cutting-edge, streamlined manufacturing environment.

Moog Inc.has been operating in the UK for over 50 years, with nine locations and more than 1,000 employees. They are one of the largest employers in Tewkesbury and featured in Punchline's Top 100 Employers in Gloucestershire.

Mark Lawton, general manager of the Aircraft Control Components division of Moog, said: "We are delighted to announce the opening of our new facility and show it off to our family, friends, and external organisations.

"Our continued success in the marketplace resulted in us outgrowing the premises that we have occupied for over 45 years. Our new facility will more than double in size and allow us to incorporate modern manufacturing practices."

Nusrat Ghani, the government's Business and Trade Minister, said: "This £40m investment in a state-of-the-art facility in Gloucestershire will create jobs, grow the economy, and boost an already thriving aerospace sector here in the UK.

"Thanks to the work of the government, the Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK, we were able to provide over £8m in collaborative R&D funding to develop this 'open source' factory of the future."

Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog's high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, and marine and medical equipment.