SIXTY JOBS are to be created at one of Shropshire’s biggest manufacturers with 50 more expected to follow by April, bosses revealed today.

Makita Manufacturing Europe, which makes power tools, has seen production nearly treble in the last 12 months at its base in Telford.

More than 500 people are already employed at the site in Hortonwood.

Company chiefs today said assembly lines would also start working a double day shift from the end of the month to cope with rocketing orders.

The firm is expected to make 165,000 tools a month by April, compared to 40,000 in January 2010.

Orders for this month are 112,000.

Alan Knowles, personnel manager for Makita Manufacturing Europe, said the announcement was good news for the Telford area.

He said: “Makita Manufacturing Europe Ltd are experiencing significant growth and now have 60 vacancies, which could also increase by a further 50 in April 2011.

“As a result of the increase in orders, our assembly lines will start working a double day shift from the end of January to cope with the increase.

“In January 2010 we built 40,000 tools, orders for January 2011 are 112,000, increasing to 165,000 tools per month in March 2011.”

It is the latest expansion for the rapidly-growing UK branch of the multi-national Japanese firm, which has bases all over the world including in China, Brazil, USA and Germany.

More than 70 new jobs were created last year after work on new and existing power tools and gardening products was transferred from Japan and China to Telford.

The company has also recently completed a new £1.3 million extension at its Hortonwood plant.

The announcement comes as business bosses in the county were urged to explore overseas trading opportunities.

Richard Sheehan, managing director of Shropshire Chamber, said manufacturing firms in particular should be exploring new markets and the potential for increased export sales.

By Wayne Beese