MORE than 100 jobs are to be created after a fast growing firm announced a £5million expansion.

Precision Polymer Engineering Ltd (PPE) has revealed it is to almost double the size of its factory in a move which will see its workforce rise from 187 to 300.

The award-winning firm based in Greenbank Road, Blackburn, manufactures rubber seals which are used in the aerospace, automotive, chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas and food production industries.

PPE is to expand the custom-built base it moved to in 2003, buy new machinery and create a state-of-the-art laboratory to develop new products.

The firm is in talks with Blackburn with Darwen Council about the expansion and is due to submit a planning application.

Building work to expand the factory from 35,000sq ft to 68,000sq ft is set to start early next year if planning permission is granted.

The expansion will also include a separate office block which will house training facilities and should be completed by mid 2009.

PPE is trying to get a bigger foothold in the competitive Asian markets, particularly China, and it is hoped the expansion and new products will help the company boost sales in this key area.

It is anticipated the project will also help double the firm's turnover of £16million by 2010.

Mike Damms, chief executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce added: "Precision Polymer are a very well run company so in a way I am not surprised by this.

"This a show of their strength and they have the capability of expanding into overseas markets. I have little doubt they will succeed."

Peter Cloney, managing director of PPE said: "The expansion is because of increasing amounts of business which we are generating as well as a strong presence in existing markets.

"The expansion will also allow us into new markets.

"The Asian markets are notoriously tricky and we really have to have something they do not have.

"The total investment is £5million which includes the building, new equipment and testing machinery for the lab.

"As a manufacturing operation in Blackburn which wants to stay in this country, we have to be at the forefront of technology and must invest extensively in our workforce to ensure that we keep ahead of our global competitors."

PPE was set up more than 30 years ago in Roe Lee by Peter Cummings and now has a sales office in San Jose, California.

More than 80 per cent of its products are exported primarily to the USA and within the European Union.

The firm has seen annual growth of least 25 per cent in the last five years.

PPE recently won a Queens Award for Enterprise in the international trade category after boosting overseas sales by 75 per cent.

It is the second Queen's Award for company after it won an award for innovation in 2006.