A MAJOR Teesdale employer is to take on more staff at its medical equipment facility, following a buyout by a leading US firm.

RW Injection Moulding, based in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, has been bought by Pennsylvaniabased Classic Industries.

The US firm’s chief executive, Jay Policastro, travelled to County Durham last week to tell each shift personally about the deal and the company’s plans.

Both businesses are involved in making injectionmoulded plastic components for the medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

It is understood the US firm had initially been looking for a firm to subcontract work to in Europe, but was so impressed by RW they bought the business, choosing it above 60 other contenders.

The price of the deal has not been disclosed.

It will now be the centre of Classic Industries’ European activities, leading to more contracts and the possibility of more jobs.

RW, which employs 50 members of staff, has been renamed Classic Industries Europe and will continue to operate from its facility in Middleton-in-Teesdale with the same management team.

General manager John Pearson said: “We are very excited about this, it has been really well-received by the staff.

“They feel it is securing their futures here. Not that there was a problem before, but it is going to be easier growing and developing the business being part of a larger operation than a relatively small company.

“In the next six to 12 months there should be additional work coming in, and with that additional staff.

“About six weeks ago they mooted the idea of us potentially selling the business – it has literally happened that quickly.”

Classic Industries employs more than 500 people worldwide and its purchase of RW marks its first step into the European market, boosting its worldwide manufacturing operations for pharmaceutical and medical packaging and components.

In a statement, Classic said: “The acquisition provides Classic Industries with an operation in the UK to serve medical device and healthcare customers throughout Europe.”

Classic has been trading for 40 years and has its headquarters in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where it also has a manufacturing facility.

RW Injection Moulding, the largest private employer in Middleton-in-Teesdale, has been in business for more than 25 years and was known as Renham and Wade until September 2006.

At last week’s Plastics Industry Awards, the company won the award for best training and development programme.