Engineering group KES is set to create 40 new electrical engineering roles in Strabane as it launches phase three of its multimillion-pound expansion, significantly increasing its advanced manufacturing capacity and export potential. The investment forms part of the company’s long-term growth strategy to serve the fast-growing global data centre market across Europe, the USA, and the Middle East.

Founded in 2009, KES moved into the Invest NI-owned Strabane Business Park in 2019, initially specialising in energy-efficient modular buildings. It has since evolved into a high-tech manufacturing and technology provider, delivering products to leading data centre operators worldwide. When the final expansion phase is completed in 2027, KES will operate across 13 acres—occupying nearly 60% of the park—and will become one of the region’s most advanced offsite construction facilities.

The new roles, offering an average salary of £48,000, will add approximately £2 million annually to the local economy. The company’s investment in world-class automated systems and vertically integrated manufacturing processes has strengthened its control over the supply chain and improved productivity.

Managing director Conor McCrossan said the expansion will “increase manufacturing capacity, enhance competitive advantage, and enable greater export growth.” He credited Invest NI’s long-standing support, including over £1 million in funding, for helping KES evolve from a construction firm into a technology-driven manufacturer.

George McKinney, interim chief development officer at Invest NI, described the project as a “significant transformation,” highlighting its contribution to job creation, productivity, and supply chain resilience in Northern Ireland’s northwest region.

By aligning automation, skilled talent, and sustainable production, KES is positioning itself as a key player in the infrastructure powering the global data economy.

Learn more about KES’s expansion and its growing role in the UK and Ireland’s advanced manufacturing landscape.