A GLOBAL electronics company gave its North-East workforce a second boost yesterday, as it moved production of its high-tech lawnmower to the region.

Electrolux announced its Outdoor Power Products plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, will manufacture Automower, its flagship automated lawnmower.

Gerry Hunter, regional officer for the Amicus union, said: "This is great news for the workforce.

"It shows what Electrolux thinks of the workforce at Aycliffe. It is a product that requires a lot of man hours, so it should result in more jobs."

The product was previously made at the group's Husqvarna factory in Sweden.

The switch follows a review by Electrolux of all its operations, which had sparked fears the group would close the plant. It shut down a refrigerator factory at Spennymoor six years ago, shedding 650 jobs.

Brian Wytcherley, head of customer service and a board director, said: "The group has identified Aycliffe as a flagship site for electric production.

"Automower is moving to the UK in order to benefit from the expertise in innovation and the manufacturing process available on-site.

"Automower will also profit from the improved competitive environment that the Aycliffe factory can offer."

The plant, on Aycliffe Industrial Estate, already turns out more than 1 million lawnmowers a year, under the Flymo brand.

Automower was launched last year and is sold in 15 countries across Europe. Sales in 2006 are expected to reach 15,000, although major growth is anticipated in the UK market.

Production at Newton Aycliffe will start in November. It will safeguard 30 jobs at the plant, which has 200 workers and employs a further 200 seasonal staff during busy periods.

Mr Wytcherley said: "It is early days to say exactly how it will pan out.

"But this is a high technology product and hopefully gives us a competitive edge that will see more products come here down the line."

It also offers opportunities to several North-East companies that already supply components for Flymo.

"We already use local companies to supply Flymo," said Mr Wytcherley. "It would be logical to look at that supply base for the components around Automower."

The announcement comes a day after Electrolux unveiled £7m of investment at its Spennymoor factory, which employs 600 staff.

The plant will manufacture a new range of cookers destined for the UK and Irish markets.