A British brassware designer whose products may feature on the taps of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has established its new manufacturing base in the Black Country.
Avilion is moving into the former factory which was vacated by shower manufacturer Kohler Mira when it stopped production at the Shaw Road site in Wolverhampton.
The company, which sells upmarket kitchen and bathroom brassware to more than 80 countries, is best-known for its Perrin & Rowe brand.
The Savoy, Dorchester and Sandy Lane in Barbados are among its hotel clients, and it is rumoured that Chelsea owner Abramovich has also chosen its sophisticated taps and mixers for his new Wentworth mansion.
Until the move, Avilion had its plating plant based in East Grinstead and a foundry in Oldbury, but production from both sites is now switching to Shaw Road.
Manufacturing director Andrew Rich said the Wolver-hampton factory would also include the group's machining and polishing operations.
Mr Rich said: "The Black Country is the centre of what remains of the brassware industry, so it was the ideal location."
The presence of skilled employees made redundant by Kohler Mira's decision to outsource production overseas, and the earlier closure of Ideal Standard's Wolverhampton plant was another critical influence, he added.
"Avilion had been considering moving from East Grinstead to somewhere with a stronger supply of skilled workers for the last five years," said Mr Rich.
"Last August we targeted the move more seriously, and when we were subsequently able to acquire a foundry in Oldbury, we then brought in Donaldsons property agents to identify a potential production site."
