Simon Shields, the Thompsons director responsible for northern operations, says Blackburn 3 inolved a £1.2 million investment in acquiring the site and another £500,000 on fitting it out with a new press, guillotine and overhead crane.
An on-site shotblast facility is arriving shortly, e followed in the summer by a twin-bay paintshop.
"With market demand continuing so strong, we have been very confident in making this next major step in the company's development," comments Shields.
"Having a third factory in Blackburn allows us not just to increase production in unit terms, but also to significantly increase our efficiency," he continues.
"Now, for the first time, we can achieve the whole production process, from cutting steel plate to delivering a finished, painted vehicle, with everything done in-house. Taken all together, this is a great step forward."