New jobs are on the way in Welshpool after electronics company Invertek announced plans for a £6 million investment in a new facility in the town.

Invertek Drives has announced it is to invest £6.3 million in a new Innovation Centre. Land has been acquired for the bespoke centre next to the company’s global headquarters and manufacturing facility at the Offa’s Dyke Business Park.

The company designs and manufactures variable frequency drive (VFD) technology that is used to control AC electric motors. These are used in a wide range of industries including engineering and manufacturing, food production, water industries, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.

Shaun Dean, chief executive officer of Invertek Drives Ltd, senior vice president of Sumitomo Heavy Industries and CEO of PTC EMEIA HQ, said the latest investment would create one of the most modern VFD R&D facilities in the world.

“The new Innovation Centre will be a hub for the design of our next generation technology," he said.

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"Our Optidrive VFD products are recognised worldwide for their effectiveness in efficient motor control, as well as their durability and ease of use.

“This is part of the continuing investment being made locally in Wales by Sumitomo Heavy Industries in Invertek.

"Work is about to start on an extension to our existing manufacturing facility at the site as part of a £10million investment. This has also included the previously announced creation and completion of a new, state-of-the-art, Application and Training Centre.”

The company employs 360 people at Welshpool, having grown from 230 18 months ago, and about 85 jobs will be created by the latest investment.

It is not yet known how many jobs will be created bythe new innovation centre. 

As well as investment in facilities the company has said it is currently undertaking a recruitment drive for a range of careers ranging from graduate placements, production, and electrical engineering.

The planed extension will allow Invertek to nearly triple its production of VFD products from 460,000 units a year to more than 1.2 million.

Architectural design work is underway on the project before a pre-planning application will be made later this year ahead of a full planning application.

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Glyn Jones, Technical Director at Invertek Drives Ltd, said: “The new Innovation Centre will be a beacon for the research and development of next generation VFD technology.

“Our products not only create efficiencies in motion and pump control systems, but they are also supporting the reduction of harmful CO2 emissions through energy saving technology that is supporting the efforts to reduce climate change globally.

“We’re committed to creating technology that will continue to support such needs in today’s society and this is another clear commitment to that.”