A German company which provides a broad range of high-tech electronic equipment to the maritime industry has docked in the West Midlands.
SAM Electronics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of L-3 Communications, in the US, has its main headquarters in Hamburg. The firm has now opened an office at the University of Warwick Science Park's Business Innovation Centre in Binley.
With over a century of experience, the company supplies electrical power packages, electrical drive systems, automation systems, navigation and communication equipment, and maritime services to the worldwide marine industry.
SAM Electronics employs five people at the new Coventry base, but is set to add further new faces to the team as it is already looking to expand into larger office space at the centre.
The man behind the new office, Tony Chronnell, says it provides particular expertise in the design of electrical power and propulsion systems for drill rigs, pipe or cable layers, tankers, dredgers, cruise ships, luxury yachts or other specially designed vessels.
He added: "Shipping is one of the most important industries in the world and SAM Electronics is at the heart of it. Our technology can be found aboard thousands of vessels all over the world ranging from container carriers to ferries and cruise liners. You might ask then, why we chose a base in the centre of the UK that is some distance away from the sea.
"The Business Innovation Centre in Binley is an ideal location for our new office because we can expand within the same location as well as obtaining the necessary skills to help us to maintain the highest standards."
Mr Chronnell explained the company needed flexible office space that was accessible for staff with the necessary skills to help it to maintain the very highest standards and to ensure it offered the very latest technology.
"It was ideal from that point of view and the fact that we can expand within the same location is also very positive," he said.
Karen Aston, the manager of the University of Warwick Science Park's Business Innovation Centre in Binley, said SAM's decision to locate in Coventry reflected well on the city.
She said: "This is another great example of a global company choosing Coventry as one of its bases.
"At the Science Park, we do play a part in attracting inward investors to the city at the same time as helping local, young companies to grow. It is a combination that serves us well and is a reflection on the city as a whole and its diverse economy."
