Work will start later this summer on building a new 120,000 sq ft production facility for BioPure Technology, a fluid-path component manufacturer for the biotechnology industry.

Located at the Portsmouth City Council-owned Dunsbury Park, which is expected to bring ‘thousands of new jobs’ to the area in years to come., the investment is expected to create 120 jobs.

Commenting on the ‘largest development of south coast manufacturing this year’, council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: ‘We are not waiting around in terms of planning for recovery. To get this many skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs into the local area at our award-winning business park shows the positive impact councils can have on their local economy if things are done properly. We’re excited to have another strong, international firm on board’

Andrew Mines, managing director of Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group which owns BioPure Technology, added: ‘We’re immensely proud to be able to reinforce BioPure’s position as a major employer in the Portsmouth area and are delighted to be working with Portsmouth City Council on this expansion project.’

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) is the world leader in niche peristaltic pump manufacture and associated fluid path technologies. WMFTG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc, a global organisation employing approximately 4,800 people worldwide.