A leading double glazing manufacturer is creating 300 new jobs in Northern Ireland as part of a £30 million sterling expansion programme, it was announced tonight.
The Antrim-based Camden Group is providing the employment boost at a new purpose-built factory it is setting up to manufacture special energy efficient double glazed units.
The plant is due to open in the spring and will complement the company's existing operations in Antrim.
The new plant will be dedicated to the manufacture of a range of products which provide superior levels of energy efficiency - reducing both condensation and noise - and adhere to new building regulations in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
At the same time Camden - one of the largest manufacturers of PVCu doors, panels, window frames and conservatories in the UK and Ireland - announced it had acquired Co Tyrone based K McAnallen Ltd, trading as Pilkington K'Mac.
It said the takeover would secure the employment of the 95-strong workforce at the Benburb plant, which is to be rebranded as Camden Glass.
Kieran Lavery, group managing director said: "This is a very important step for Camden and is in line with our strategic growth plans, which include providing a range of quality products using the latest technologies to enable us to expand business opportunities to existing markets as well as reach new markets."
He said the group, which will employ over 1,000 after the new posts are all filled, had grown to become one of the leading manufacturers in the PVCu industry and was poised to become one of the largest producers of glass in the UK and Ireland.
"Sales over the last year have broken all our previous records and in the wake of a decline for the UK window industry Camden Group has witnessed 30 per cent growth in the same period."
Mr Lavery added: "The company is bucking the trend of a declining UK manufacturing sector by placing an emphasis on innovation and demand is at an all-time high."