The firm were awarded the money to help with their expansion plans

A further 54 jobs at the Ensinger plant in Llantrisant will be safeguarded under the expansion plans.

The Welsh assembly awarded the firm the grant under its regional selective assistance scheme.

It will go towards �5.2m expansion plans by the firm which is looking for a new headquarters between Llantrisant and Bridgend.

The German owned company specialises in making plastic components and has been based at Llantrisant for the past 15 years.

The company, which has seen an increase in growth over the last decade, has been looking for a new headquarters site in south Wales for some time.

New staff

Several sites are currently being evaluated by the firm and the new jobs are expected to be for skilled production engineers and sales staff.

"I am pleased that Ensinger's long and fruitful association with Wales will be able to go from strength to strength, and that almost 50 new jobs will be created, " said the minister for economic development and transport Andrew Davies.

"This investment shows the Welsh Assembly Government's commitment to the manufacturing sector, which continues to play an important role in the increasingly diverse Welsh economy.

"It also underlines the confidence of employers in the high quality workforce available in Wales."

Various plans for a 54,000 square foot facility to cope with the planned expansion have been drawn up.

"The move to a purpose-built factory will reinforce our position as a leading UK sub-contractor in precision machined plastic parts," said Ensinger's managing director, John Speirs.