MORE than 100 jobs could be created at a Blackburn company over the next four years, according to the man behind its success.

Precision Polymer Engineering Ltd (PPE), Greenbank Road, is about to embark on an expansion of its factory floor space which could see the current 200 strong workforce rise to 300 by 2012.

These plans have been cemented by the recent acquisition of Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals Ltd, a Scottish company that provides seals to the oil and gas sector.

PPE managing director Peter Cloney believes the two companies will go a long way to improving the accessibility of high-performance elastomers and plastics for companies with specific needs.

He said: "One of the key reasons for us doing this deal is to gain a sales gateway in Aberdeen. For our Blackburn workforce it will give us the opportunity to sell rubber parts to major oil companies up in the area.

"Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals is well known in Northern Scotland for providing excellent service and rapid delivery from stock, as well as fast production of turned parts.

"We intend to build further on this infrastructure and create a centre of excellence in Aberdeen so that customers have access to local, immediate prototyping in specialist grades with subsequent volume deliveries from Blackburn in exactly the same materials in moulded form."

PPE is a specialist manufacturer of high-performance sealing parts with a turnover of £20million and a global workforce of 220 employees.