A FAMILY-owned water cooler business is increasing its workforce by half following an increase in international sales.

Ebac, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, manufactures bottled water coolers and humidifiers.

In the face of a national trend of manufacturing job losses, the company is increasing the number of production line workers to more than 180.

The company has recently recruited 40 staff and is recruiting another 20 permanent and short-term workers.

The recruitment drive comes after an increase in worldwide sales, with shipments up 20 per cent on June last year. Eighty per cent of the extra sales were made overseas.

The company recently announced record profits of more than £2m, which will be invested in the business, developing new products and markets.

Ebac chairman John Eliott said: "Our view is that UK firms can succeed in manufacturing, provided they invest in people, products and processes.

"I am talking about innovation and improvements being a way of life."

Pam Gillespie, managing director of the company's consumer products division, said the company was successful because everything was done on-site.

She said: "One of the company's strengths is that we are able to keep a tight rein on costs by doing as much as possible in-house.

"Unlike many of our competitors, we are less reliant on outside suppliers for parts of the manufacturing process.

"This reduces our overheads, improves quality control and gives us greater flexibility in the way we run our business.

"If we did not operate in this way, we would not have realised the record profits last year that are enabling us to continue investing in the future of the company, our employees and the North-East."

Ebac was established in 1972 and during the past 30 years, has grown into a multi-million pound company with a turnover of more than £30m and a workforce that continues to grow.

The company supplies customers around the world and is a market leader in Europe, with more than 60 per cent of its products being for export