AEROSPACE "high fliers" will gather to mark the opening of a £1.5 million factory that will create 30 new jobs and play a key part in a company's future expansion.

Colne-based engineering firm Cleveland Guest will officially unveil its new factory on Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson, on Friday in front of an audience of the country's leading aerospace business leaders.

The 15,000sq ft factory will be opened by Alice Guest, widow of Doug Guest who helped found the firm, and Pendle MP Gordon Prentice.

The investment is another step in Cleveland Guest's bid to be a world-class supplier of complex high precision components to the aerospace industry.

Centre piece of the new site is a dedicated manufacturing "cell" to produce components for the Brazilian 50-seater regional jet, the Embraer RJ145.

Worth more than £10 million, the contract is with Hurel Dubois which makes the thrust reverser for the engines on the jet.

The "cell" has the latest state-of-the-art technology and six computer-controlled machining areas.

There will be further investment at the North Valley Road, Colne, site, particularly in support services and information technology.

Managing director Steve Hollis said: "This is an exceptional development for our type of company.

Since the company was taken over four years ago sales have grown from £3 million in 1995 to £5 million last year and are expected to top £6 million this year.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.