Work has started on a £2.5 million expansion project at Vickers Oils' operating site in Clarence Road, Leeds.

Britcon is delivering the scheme, which will see a new 5,500 sq ft two-storey riverside building developed at the site to contain a first-floor laboratory with roof plant area and ground floor storage facility.

The laboratory extension is part of a substantial investment by Vickers Oils to update its existing 50-year-old laboratory buildings and consolidate into a more modern facility with improved extraction, heating and ventilation. So far, a new boiler house and tank farm has been installed, while previous structures have been demolished to make room for the new laboratory.

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Chris Wholley, Technical Director at Vickers Oils, said: "Our environment acceptable marine lubricants have helped our business to grow significantly in recent years following legislation that requires the worldwide shipping industry to make changes. This has allowed us to invest in our plant and relocate our wet chemistry function into the new laboratory whilst keeping our mechanical testing and offices in the old buildings.

"The challenge to Britcon is no mean feat as they are required to manage the construction project alongside mechanical and electrical installation and laboratory outfitter simultaneously in a very short timescale. We are extremely pleased with the efficiency of the Britcon team so far."

Paul Clarkson, Managing Director at Britcon said: "We are pleased to be working with Vickers Oils to deliver this significant project which will help to facilitate further growth for a market leader. The project is complex and challenging but we have the expertise and value engineering capacity to deliver.

"We are also in discussions to carry out phase three of the project to install energy efficient windows, a new façade to the existing building and refurbishment of the old laboratories."

(LM)