When EWM Hightec Welding UK was looking for premises, it was told by a customer on the Coopies Lane Industrial Estate that a Coopies Way building was available.

At the time, it was loaned to the Morpeth Rotary Club so it could provide donated sofas, cupboards and other items to people who had to move into temporary accommodation following last September's deluge.

Managing Director Alan Cauchi secured an agreement to take on the N.B. Clark and Co warehouse and he believes the firm can now go from strength to strength.

"I had previously worked from home, but EWM and I were keen to take the UK operations to the next level by getting a base which would allow us to be closer to the market, have shorter delivery times and have more staff to support our customers," he said.

"When I was talking to one of our customers, Stanners on Coopies Lane, I happened to mention this and they told me there was a warehouse available on Coopies Way which was being used as a centre for flood relief.

"When I first saw the place it was full of furniture but I could see the potential to create the unit we needed so we decided to come here. At the same time, I was glad the furniture depot found other premises to go to.

"Many people think the Midlands or London are the hubs of the industry, but when you are making deliveries across the UK, the North East is ideally placed in the centre.

"Our aim is to build on our presence in the UK and increase staff and operations, which will be great for the local economy."

The depot stocks all of the latest welding machines from EWM in Germany and related ancillary products in the market.

There is a trade counter and service centre, a demonstration area to show people how the products can solve application problems and also welding training facilities for customers.

MP for Wansbeck Denis Murphy, whose constituency includes Morpeth, officially opened the warehouse and spoke of his delight that Coopies Lane was chosen.

He said: "This move is a demonstration of the success of this industrial estate and it sends out all the right messages that a German company has opened a UK base here during the worst economic downturn in my lifetime.

"I come from an engineering background and have argued for many years that we are what we manufacture and many of my colleagues are now saying how important engineering is to local economies and the UK as a whole.

"This is a step in the right direction and it also shows that Coopies Lane is very much still open for business."

Four jobs have been created, although EWM Board Member Hans Kaulbach is confident this number will grow in the future.

He added that it was important for the company to have a base in the UK so it could offer the same services on offer to customers in Germany.