Tucked away in Staplehurst is a small family-run business with a big reputation.

Magnetic Shields Ltd, based in Headcorn Road, has been in operation since 1957 and counts among its customers the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland and several Formula One teams.

It's products were even included on the Solar Orbiter satellite launched from Cape Canaveral in February that is off to explore the sun.

Now the company is expanding - but staying firmly on the ground in Staplehurst.

Company chairman Colin Woolger picked up a spade to turn the ceremonial first sod at the start of construction for a new 80m by 20m factory building which will virtually double the company’s production and storage capacity to account for the increasing demand for its high technology products.

He was watched by his manager director David Woolger and board member Mick Eastland.

Once operational, the new building will allow the firm to recruit an extra 10 to 20 staff members to join the 65 already employed there.

The building has been designed to be sympathetic to its surroundings with green initiatives factored in, such as rainwater harvesting and solar power to reduce its carbon footprint.

Magnetic Shields has been in business 63 years supplying the aerospace and automotive industries, particle physics laboratories, medical research equipment, and other high technology industries - including most recently for analyser manufacturers producing equipment to fight against Covid 19.

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