A COUNTY Durham fire manufacturer has opened its first showroom in Germany as part of its continued expansion, in a move which could bring new jobs to this region.

CVO Fire has been approved for sale in the country after two years of testing procedures to ensure the products meet guidelines, and the business is now the only retailer in Germany to sell flueless fires.

It adds to Newton Aycliffebased CVO’s existing overseas sales sites in Holland and Italy, and comes only weeks ahead of the business launching a flagship site near Reading, Berkshire.

The new showroom in Munich continues the strong start to the year for CVO, which has seen new inquiries jump by 50 per cent due to the cold snap in January.

Last year, sales exceeded expectations, increasing by 25 per cent compared to 2008.

Clients have included an unnamed Hollywood director, who commissioned a fire for his £10.5m Californian home, as well as hotel chains such as Hilton and Marriott.

As demand for its products continues, new jobs could be added to its 14-strong workforce.

CVO’s range of flueless fires, all of which are designed and made in its County Durham headquarters, have been proved to be an ecofriendly alternative to traditional fires and are 100 per cent energy efficient.