A Midland plumbing equipment manufacturer is to double the size of its facilities and create a host of jobs as part of a £6 million investment plan.

Altecnic is to move from its current premises at Hixon in Staffordshire to a new purpose-built 80,000 sq ft facility at Mustang Drive in Stafford.

The plan is being implemented because the business has outgrown its existing facilities.

Managing director Stuart Gizzi, who founded the original company with partners Cynthia Fisher and Barry Humphreys, said the firm had grown considerably during the past two decades.

'There have been many changes over the years and we have grown from virtually nothing to a turnover of more than £40 million and become one of the top 50 businesses in the region,' he said.

In recent years it has expanded elements of the business and this spring it launched a new company, Intaeco that specialises in supplying equipment for ecofriendly heating and hot water systems.

'We have always been at the forefront in the application of technology and we believe that equipment that reduces water and energy consumption has a big future in British homes and workplaces,' added Mr Gizzi.

The company has relocated several times since it was created - each due to a lack of capacity. This time it is taking no chances that the premises will soon become cramped.

'This is a huge increase in space for us,' said Mr Gizzi. 'For the first few months I'm sure it will feel like we're rattling around in there, but this time we're hoping that this will be sufficient for us for quite a few years to come.

'It's a great new facility and we're looking forward to the fresh opportunities it will bring. We are one of those businesses that is well known in the trade, but unknown to the public so moving from our present rural site to a location alongside the A38 and the M6 will give us our first opportunity to put our brand on a building where the people of Stafford will be able to see it.'

The move will take place towards the end of the year and should see employment opportunities as the business continues to grow.

The business was launched in Rugeley 20 years ago and has a product range that includes heating system components and anti-scald showers, taps and valves. It has made its reputation by promoting hot water safety in bathrooms and for campaigning for changes in legislation to reduce deaths and injuries in bathroom scaldings. In the UK each year there are around 20 deaths and 480 serious injuries attributable to bathtime scaldings.

In March, the company launched a new adjustable bypass valve for use in central heating systems. The eres valve is designed to prevent the pump from working against a closed circuit when all the control or thermostatic radiator valves are shut. It ensures a flow recirculation proportional to the number of valves closed, while limiting the maximum differential pressure generated by the pump.

The company is also the first in Staffordshire and the first in its industry in the UK to attain a carbon neutral status. The move is in line with the company's new environmental strategy, which has seen it focus on energy saving measures and waste minimisation throughout the manufacturing process.

Commercial director, Cynthia Fisher said: "Our company has a strong focus on energy saving and safety. The products we produce can make domestic and commercial heating systems less wasteful."