A Newtown-based electronics firm that has brought back one of its main production lines back from Asia has been given £60,000 from the Welsh Government.

Control Techniques' Commander general purpose drives will now be produced entirely at its Mochdre Industrial Estate site after previously being manufactured in China, and created 44 new jobs as a result.

Economy Minister Ken Skates welcomed the decision to move production to north Powys during an "incredibly difficult time for our economy".

He said: "The investment is a real show of confidence in its workforce and will not only safeguard jobs, but create new ones which is fantastic news.

“I am pleased the Welsh Government has been able to support the company and I look forward to seeing the company go from strength to strength in mid Wales."

The company, which is part of Nidec – the world’s biggest manufacturer of motors – is one of the largest employers in mid Wales with 383 staff.

The news builds on previous investment by the firm in its Newtown facility. The 44 new jobs have been created after a production facility was transported by road and rail from China.

The move is key in ramping up production in mid Wales with 1,200 drives set to be made every day to meet global demand.

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Welsh Government said it is also supporting the company and Broughton-based research and development facility AMRC Cymru on a project aimed at driving productivity improvements.

Martyn Cray, Vice President of Operations for Control Techniques, said: “By successfully bringing production of our Commander drives back to Wales, we have proven there is both the expertise and capability to operate a project of this magnitude here in Wales.

"Our in-house operations and supply chain teams worked tirelessly to deliver the project, on time and within budget, and we can now look forward to substantial cost savings along with the creation of new employment here in Newtown.”