The Welsh drives-maker Invertek Drives is planning to build a new 1,670m² facility next to its existing plant in Welshpool, creating up to 30 new jobs, to add to the 50 people who already work for the company.

The company, founded in 1998 by a group of former Control Techniques employees, is talking to the Welsh Assembly about possible support for its expansion plans. Andrew Davies, the Assembly’s Minister for Enterprise Innovation and Networks visited Invertek recently to see the company first-hand and to discuss the plans.

Invertek has been expanding globally and has set up joint-venture operations in the Czech Republic, Spain, Singapore and South Africa, as well as a service centre in China.

“We’ve undergone continued strong growth over the past eight years which we fully expect to maintain in years to come as we roll out new and exciting ideas to develop our presence in the global drives market,” says the company’s operations director, Charles Haspel.

Last year, Invertek appointed one of Control Techniques’ founders, Kevin Curran, as chairman.