HRH The Duke of York has opened Gooch and Housego's Ilminster factory and head office in a ceremony that took place on 21 April 2009. HRH The Duke of York toured the new Somerset, UK factory, which was purpose built to manufacture world-leading precision optical components and sub-systems in clean-room environments, before unveiling a glass plaque, designed and manufactured onsite.
At the conclusion of the royal visit, CEO Gareth Jones commented: 'I was delighted HRH The Duke of York could make time in his busy schedule to officially open our new facility. As the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, it was particularly fitting for HRH to visit a global leader in optical component manufacturing and a former winner of the Queen's Award for Enterprise and Achievements through International Trade.'
