A MAJOR expansion at a Redditch firm has created more than eight new jobs at a 'Centre of Excellence' for test rig manufacturing.

KG Washford, which designs and manufacture of hydro-mechanical rigs to test fuel flow systems for civil and military aircraft engines, has expanded its workshop by 6,000 square foot after scooping a series of substantial new orders.

The company has moved into a new facility located almost next door to its existing premises in Crossgate Road dedicated to the manufacture and assembly of test rigs and fixtures.

The test rigs act as flight simulators for engine components, testing them under real-life and extreme situations and ensure that fuel systems components, such as fuel meters, high pressure pumps and solenoid valves, will operate safely under all conditions.

The company is still looking to bolster its existing rig teams by further recruitment of staff, including young graduates and apprentices.

Operations director Gerard Tilley said: "We intend to create a 'Centre of Excellence' for test rig manufacturing.

"The larger premises mean that we can design and prefabricate the larger rigs on site, rather than building them on the customers’ own premises.

"We can also respond more swiftly to our clients’ needs because we now have the capacity to build several rigs simultaneously."

He added: "We are also investing in the future of the West Midlands engineering industry by not only recruiting skilled and experienced engineers from across the region but also creating new openings for young graduates and apprentices to join our team."

The company is also investing in the machine tooling side of the business, which makes high quality precision machined components for both its own test and control rigs and for the customised tooling it supplies to the aerospace, automotive and general engineering industries.

The aim is to expand the machine tooling services that the company can deliver by upgrading existing machinery and purchasing new specialist tools so that the growing needs of its customers can be more readily accommodated.

Founded as JS Engineering in 1973, the company changed its name in 1975 to Washford Engineering and formed KG Washford as its design arm in 1999, with the two then merging in 2009.

The company became part-owned by senior management in October 2015 and currently employs 24 members of staff.