New manufacturing jobs have been created after a global packaging firm announced it was basing its European headquarters in Birmingham.

Australian firm TNA is investing £750,000 in its Bartley Green base, creating 20 jobs, as it becomes its European manufacturing hub.

A new 50,000 sq ft facility at its existing site will make equipment for the food packaging industry, including machines that spray seasoning and oil on snacks including Walkers crisps,.

The company, founded in Sydney in 1982, said the hub would generate £15 million per annum for the local economy, which it aims to double in the next three to five years.

Birmingham was chosen as the company’s European base because of its proximity to customers, reducing lead times.

Tim Moulsdale, general manager of TNA Europe, said: “Through our new production facility in Europe we can now manufacture a large proportion of our products in addition to offering enhanced technical support, sales and related services to our customers.

“We came here because Birmingham is the centre of the world for manufacturing – for an Australian that was quite an appeal.

“In 2000 TNA founder Alf Taylor bought this site with a big plot of land on the back and it’s been sitting here since 2001.

“Our customers are centred around the area, Walkers are in Leicester.

“If you pick up a bag of crisps from the supermarket there’s a 90 per cent chance we supplied equipment to them.”

This is the company’s third manufacturing facility, with other sites in Melbourne and Qingdao, China.

TNA clients include PepsiCo and food processing equipment, like machines for bagging crisps, can range in price from £10,000 to £50,000.

The Bartley Green site also provides a logistical base for TNA’s sales, technical service and project management capabilities in Europe.

The hub will employ around 65 people and create around 20 jobs in manufacturing and administration.

Alf Taylor, founder of TNA, said: “We set up TNA Europe in 1990, our first site overseas since Australia.

“It took us 30 years to turn over our first billion. At the rate TNA is growing we expect the second billion will happen over the next five years.

“This new hub will produce about 35 per cent of TNA capital equipment.

“£15 million per annum into the local economy which will double over the next three to five years.”

TNA managing director Michael Green said creating the European Manufacturing Hub in Birmingham was about being close to its major markets and having the right skill set locally.

“It’s a combination of right place, right time and growth,” he said.

“If we had to decide this five years ago I’m not sure we would have had the same answer.

“A lot of manufacturing will stay in China. A lot of businesses went bust in 08-09 giving us a chance and last year was our best ever year.”