MORE than 100 jobs will be created at a Gwent factory with a £4.5 million investment.

Doncasters Group announced further improvements at its factory in Blaenavon.

The company manufactures engine blade components for the aircraft, automotive and power industries and currently employs 223 people in Blaenavon.

Rising global demand following the aircraft industry's dark days in the wake of 9/11 and significant orders including a major deal with Rolls Royce have given the company confidence to expand say bosses. The new jobs will be a mixture of skilled and manual, and will be advertised locally.

Around £3.5 million is being pumped into the site by Doncasters, with a further £1million coming from the Assembly in the form of grant aid. The news came after a recently completed £7.8 million centre of excellence was unveiled at the factory in Forgeside, Blaenavon, by First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

That project has already created 100 new jobs, with £1.3 million of the cash coming from Assembly and WDA coffers.

The latest announcement means in total 200 jobs will have been created over three years from 2004 to 2007, and £12.3 million will have been invested in the site, with £10million coming from Doncasters.

Mike Askew, managing director of the company's aerospace division said: "We have recently secured a number of important orders at the site, including an order to manufacture ring rolled forgings for the turbine section of the Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent 1000 engine.

"All of this is testimony to how well the site is doing." Alan Hollis, managing director of forgings and casings at the Blaenavon site, said: "This is a real boost for the Blaenavon area.

"We are going to be putting a lot back into the community with the creation of the new jobs and investment in the future of the plant.

"We are grateful to the Assembly but credit must also go the workers who have learned skills as we've expanded and shown great enthusiasm and commitment."

Redevelopment started in September 2004 and has included the installation of a 16,000 tonne press for forged blades, as well as specialised equipment for other "engine-ready" equipment.

The investment means the site can manufacture and machine increasingly complex forgings and castings with greater efficiency, giving it the edge over competitors according to Mr Askew.

Torfaen Council's leader, Bob Wellington said the announcement was "fantastic news for an area with a history of excellence in engineering". First minister Rhodri Morgan added: "The aerospace and automotive sectors employ around 50,000 people in Wales and Doncasters' Blaenavon complex is a key part of the specialist, high-tech supply chain these sectors need to compete on a global scale."

The Blaenavon operation was established in 1952, and the 17-acre site has become an import forging facility for Doncasters which employs 4,500 people at over 20 sites around the world. l Editorial: page 22