SPECIALIST aluminium fabricators Dudley’s Aluminium has secured a £400,000 contract to provide essential glazing and fixtures for the Friars Walk project in Newport.

The company are creating and installing custom-made aluminium curtain walling and glazing at the new Friars Walk shopping centre. To complete the contract, the company is designing bespoke aluminium fixtures for a number of different outlets across the 390,000 sq ft site.

Colin Shorney managing director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “Friars Walk is an exciting development in the heart of Newport, and we are very happy to be providing our expertise at the site.

“The challenge of developing and installing custom aluminium glazing and curtain walling across multiple outlets, each with their own specifications, is one that we feel highlights our expertise in the commercial sector.

“It is always rewarding for us to work on local projects in South Wales that bring such huge benefits to the local economy.”

Friars Walk is due to open on November 12. The retail and leisure centre is expected to provide a big boost to the Newport economy.

It will be anchored by a full-offer Debenhams store and other retail stores already signed up by developers Queensberry Real Estate include H&M,New Look, Next, and an M&S Food Hall. The scheme will also bring 11 new restaurants to the city including Nandos, Las Iguanas, GBK, Cosmo and Le Pierre Bistrot. There will also be an eight-screen Cineworld cinema, 350 parking spaces and a bus station interchange.

A total 1,200 jobs are expected to be created at the site, and Friars Walk will aim to double Newport’s catchment population from 206,000 to 411,000.

Dudley’s Aluminium has recently completed a number of landmark projects across South Wales. The company has produced and installed aluminium glazing and curtain walling at Swansea University’s new Bay Campus as well as at the new Cardiff University School of Management.