Company plays it cool to create 20 new jobs.

COOLING system company Thermacore has won a cash boost for an expansion which will create 20 jobs.

Thermacore Europe, of Ashington, has landed a pounds 125,000 grant which it will use to semi-automate its plant as it aims to build its pounds 5m turnover by 15% a year.

The European arm of the company, based in Ashington, was bought out by its US management team along with its American arm for pounds 6.5m from US business Modine Manufacturing Company last year.

Thermacore, which has been in business since 1970, specialises in work for the telecommunications industry and designs and manufactures cooling systems for original equipment manufacturers such as Nokia, Siemens and Alcatel.

It aims to increase production to improve its export business and focus more on the defence and aerospace industries, and the grant from regional development agency One North East will speed the plan.

Managing director Jim Yates said: "This grant will enable us to increase our capacity and improve the manufacture of our products, allowing us to target future growth within the electronics cooling market.

"It comes on the back of several years of continued growth from our Ashington base and will really help the cause for manufacturing locally. "We're proof that despite the tough conditions, local firms can not only survive but grow as well."

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EXPANDING From left to right, Nikki Morgan of Thermacore, Maxine Horth from One North East and John Broadbent from Thermacore.