The expansion plan should be completed by early 2005

Brecon Pharmaceuticals Ltd plans to double the size of its operation at the Wye Valley Business Park.

A major recruitment drive is planned, with the company looking for new staff from a wide area.

The new expansion will ultimately take its workforce to more than 330, making it one of the largest employers in the area.

The company has expanded rapidly over the past decade, making it one of the area's leading employers Graham Hawker, WDA

Planning permission has already been given for a new 30,000 sq ft business unit.

Brecon Pharmaceuticals was set up in 1979 and provides packaging, storage and distribution services to more than 70 major pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

"The company has expanded rapidly over the past decade, making it one of the area's leading employers," said Graham Hawker, chief executive of the Welsh Development Agency.

"It is particularly pleasing to see a company at the leading edge of pharmaceutical packaging having its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in rural Wales."

Company chief executive John Bath said: "Brecon Pharmaceuticals is rapidly developing an international reputation, hosting visits by customers from many countries including the USA and Japan."

"The new facility will enable us to continue serving our customers to the levels they expect."