Canadian-owned defence manufacturer Marshall Land Systems is moving production from Cambridge to Merthyr, with plans to create up to 250 jobs in South Wales.
Production lines are now being installed at the vacant factory and office site at Merthyr Industrial Park, which has been empty since before the pandemic. The company expects the plant to reach full production capacity by the end of this year, with a workforce of around 160.
Marshall’s current order book is expected to support growth to 250 employees over the next five years. Average pay at the factory will be about £32,000, and the business is also planning to recruit around 15 apprentices.
What will be made in Merthyr?
The 191,600 sq ft facility will assemble deployable infrastructure for defence and humanitarian operations. Its products include medical facilities, CT scanner units, maintenance facilities and command centres designed for use by NATO personnel and others operating in difficult environments.
The Welsh Government is providing just under £1m to support the relocation, including about £800,000 for site security and additional funding for training. Marshall has signed a 15-year lease, with an option to buy the building.
The Cambridge operation will be wound down once the Merthyr plant reaches full capacity, although the company plans to retain a head office and engineering operation in Cambridge.
Why it matters for Britain
The move brings skilled manufacturing work, apprenticeships and investment to Merthyr, while returning a long-vacant industrial site to active use. It also keeps Marshall’s wider UK engineering and headquarters presence in Cambridge.
