A COMPUTER firm is expanding after announcing a £130,000 contract in the United States.

LK Global Manufacturing, which supplies software to manufacturing firms, is moving to new offices in Blakewater Road, Blackburn and taking on more employees.

The expansion announcement comes as the firm announced a major deal to supply software to American firm Oven Systems Inc. LK Global, which employs 65 people, expects to recruit at least 10 more staff in the next few months. "We are looking to expand throughout the world," said Mike Aston, head of sales and marketing at LK Global Manufacturing. "We will undoubtedly be increasing our head-count through local recruitment. This will underpin our three-year growth plan and provide support for new international subsidiaries in the US and Mexico."

The firm is a major partner of Sun Microsystems, the world's leading supplier of open network computer systems.

"The increase in jobs at Blackburn can only help add momentum to our joint product marketing programmes and create more local and international orders," said Robert Youngjohns, managing director of UK operations at Sun.

LK Global Manufacturing is a subsidiary of the $50 million turnover LK Global group which now employs more than 450 people worldwide.

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