A HULL manufacturer has been raising the roof to welcome it's latest multi- million pound investment.
Machinery weighing more than 100 tonnes has been lifted into position at AAK in King George Dock.
AAK has links to products including health supplements and cosmetics, bread and custard cream biscuits.
Transported to Hull in two sections, its new £8.5m deodoriser is so vast the company had to remove the roof to lift it into place.
The first section is now in place and engineers are currently connecting it to two feeder tanks and pipework, as well as completing the ground-level construction work.
Judith Murdoch, AAK's communication and CSR director, said: "The installation of the deodoriser is part of a £15m, two-year investment programme we are undertaking in Hull, and we were delighted to see the first half of the deodoriser slot perfectly into place."
AAK is this year celebrating 30 years of manufacturing in the city.
It has about 350 permanent employees in Hull – a figure that increases when demand requires.
Supplying both the food and cosmetic markets, AAK exports to 35 countries and has a vast range of products, including more than 200 to the retail market, 150 to food service companies, as well as 70 different bakery fats.
The investment programme is designed to help AAK continue its growth into new markets, as well as working with existing customers to help them grow, too.
The lion's share of the investment is being ploughed into the deodoriser which, once constructed, will measure a height of 43m.
Installation of the second half of the tank is expected to begin next month.
The completed deodoriser, which is due to be commissioned early next year, will play a key role in the processing of palm and rapeseed oil at AAK's North Refinery.
Ms Murdoch said: "Installation of the second half is expected to begin in late September of this year and we are really looking forward to seeing the end result.
"At 43m in height, it should look pretty impressive."
