A FAST-GROWING print engineering company has become the first business to move into new workshop and warehouse units which are part of the biggest new-build development in Thorp Arch Estate's 60-year history.

TUS UK Ltd, which works for a range of printing, publishing and packaging businesses, has taken a ten-year lease on an 8,500 sq ft workshop and offices in Ash Way, part of the £9 million new development completed this summer.

The business, which works throughout the UK and internationally, has made the expansion move following increasing demand for its services including the refurbishment of a six-colour, sheet-fed Komori printing press in Romania when TUS UK completes the contract later this month.

Dean Trewin, managing director, said: "Our turnover has increased from £400,000 to more than £600,000 in the last year through a series of significant contracts and demand is increasing.

"The new premises are being used as a dedicated printing press refurbishment centre. We also aim to retain a former munitions building on the estate, where we have been based for the last 12 months, for storage.

The premises are one of five warehouse and workshop units which total 44,460 sq ft and are available for lease. The development, the first of several planned phases, also incorporates 21 high-quality small business units totalling 31,260 sq ft. They are targeted at businesses at York, Harrogate and Leds wanting to expand and relocate.

Tim Munns, a director of Wharfedale Property Management Ltd, which manages the estate for owners, Hanover Property Unit Trust, said he expected to announce further tenants this spring. "We are in talks with several other businesses which want to take advantage of the workshop and warehouse units and the flexible lease terms available," he said.

Thorp Arch Estate already has a thriving business community with a 120,000 sq ft retail park. When it opened in 1959, it was one of the first out-of-town shopping centres in the North, and now has a diverse range of 120 small enterprises employing more than 2,500 people.

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, January 17, 2006