A FAMILY-RUN offshore valve maker aims create up to 100 North-East jobs in a £15m expansion.

BEL Valves, in Newcastle, is moving into a new factory to increase production and meet rising demand.

Bosses at the firm, which is part of the British Engines Group, say they have 30 positions to fill immediately, and are targeting a further 100 posts over the next three years.

The plans come as the company, which makes valves for pipeline shutdowns and high pressure equipment, prepares to mark its 50th anniversary.

It is moving into British Engines’ sister Rotary Power site, in South Tyneside, to maintain its growth, with work now being carried out on the site.

Michael Ridley, sales director, said the company, which employs about 550 workers, is also investing in research and development to enhance its industry position.

He said: “Demand for oil and gas will remain strong for the next 50 years and more.

“Most of the easy oil has been found and developments are now pushing further and further into the harsh environments of deep water, arctic, and high pressure, high temperature reservoirs.

“While we are already a significant exporter, we anticipate this will grow to more than 80 per cent of our output over the next five years.

“This will be based on sustainable organic growth with existing and new products focused on our target markets.”

The company has an £87m turnover, and began making valves under licence for ICI for petrochemical work, before starting its own designs in 1964 as British Engines Valves.

It now works with multinational energy firms such as Total, ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP, with the latter providing work on the £17bn Shah Deniz Two project, in Azerbaijan, which is expected to annually deliver 16 billion cubic meters of gas.

Neil Kirkbride, BEL Valves’ chief executive, added: “We’ve been part of this global industry for 50 years and been involved in some fascinating developments throughout that time.”

British Engines was founded in 1992 by its current chairman’s grandfather and great uncle, Harold T Lamb and Charles J Lamb respectively, on the same Newcastle site where BEL still operates.