A DIGGER maker’s North-East plant will remain a European leader as the business shrugs off Brexit uncertainty, a global boss has said.

Tetsuji Ohashi says Komatsu UK’s Birtley factory will continue as a key mainstay in operations, despite Britain’s protracted EU divorce.

The site, which provides employment for more than 400 people, was recently chosen to oversee production of new models and bosses are also in the throes of recruiting 40 further workers to maintain such momentum.

The company has launched a new hybrid and a sister machine using advanced controls at Birtley, as well as unveiling a “gamechanging”

high-reach model, and Mr Ohashi, who helped find the now 30-year-old plant, said the moves were a sign of bosses’ confidence, adding he believes that outlook will continue irrespective of Brexit.

The factory has already made more than 65,000 machines, which have mainly gone to customers in domestic and European markets, but Mr Ohashi, who worked at the base during its formative years, said it was primed to significantly add to that number.

He said: “Komatsu UK has developed so much over the past 30 years, and is producing the highest technology machines - the intelligent machines and hybrid models.

“I am very proud of the progress and achievement.

“Not everything in the past has been smooth sailing, and we had our share of ups and downs.

“But people at Komatsu UK have always overcome the downturns with teamwork.

“We are now in a period of political uncertainty, as the country prepares to exit the EU, but I am confident that business will continue as normal and we will make it through together.

“For us, Komatsu UK is the centre of development of hydraulic excavators for Europe, a well-established and tested subsidiary, and a key component of the worldwide production system.

“This is how it was, it is, and will be in the coming years.”

The business last week hailed a “truly proud and memorable moment”

after celebrating three decades of North-East manufacturing at Birtley following the factory’s opening in 1987 by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales.

Peter Howe, Komatsu UK managing director, who has been with the business for 24 years, said: “We are a family and work as a formidable team to continue to drive innovation and productivity at this brilliant plant.”

According to the firm, its new hybrid creation is capable of running on diesel and electric power, with its second excavator using what the business describes as intelligent machine control, which updates a driver on operations and uses software to cut production time by reducing secondary checks.