Bathroom products manufacturer Thomas Dudley has invested £4.5 million into its foundry division.

The company, which was founded in 1920, has spent the money on a moulding line will be officially unveiled by Dudley-born actor and comedian Lenny Henry on September 28.

Thomas Dudley employs more than 250 people in the Black Country, and manufactures the Dudley range of bathroom products, cast iron manhole covers, municipal castings and the UK’s largest range of construction industry castings.

In addition, Thomas Dudley works with customers nationwide to produce bespoke cast iron components for a diverse range of markets including the rail, stove, wood burner, cooker, oil and general engineering industries.

Having invested more than £2 million in 2010, the latest investment has been made with the help of the Regional Grant Fund.

Martin Dudley, joint managing director said: “The new Disa 131Z moulding line represents an investment in excess of £4.5 million. That is significant for any organisation and even more impressive for a family business. It again demonstrates our strong commitment to UK manufacturing.

“Our foundry currently employs almost 100 long-serving and loyal people, 10 of whom have been with us for over 25 years. The improvements made in 2010 have transformed the division, enabling us to enter new markets, compete more effectively with overseas foundries and secure significant new business.

“The growth that has been delivered has also allowed us to safeguard jobs and create a number of new positions,”

The launch day on September 28 is set to be attended by around 50 guests who will be taken on a tour of the foundry before Lenny Henry performs the opening.

Mr Dudley added: “Whilst many organisations have actually cut expenditure during the economic downturn, we have taken the opportunity to invest heavily in both our plant and people. The new moulding line further enhances our capabilities to engineer high quality castings to extremely tight tolerances and will allow us to offer customers higher quality and an even better service.”