STYROPACK UK has spent £200,000 on refurbishing and upgrading its Durham plant.

Thanks to the funding, the leading moulder of expanded polystyrene packaging will be able to improve its services to customers in the region, which include Samsung, Philips and LG Electronics.

Most of the money will be used to improve the plant's capabilities by increasing materials storage, expanding plant capacity and installing an extra loading door.

New technology and equipment have also been purchased, along with extra electricity and steam capacity for the plant.

Operations manager Mark Gilholme said: "The investment will have a significant impact on both our production capabilities and our working environment.

"The refurbishment has made the plant look like new, and the staff certainly appreciate the new conditions."

Styropack, which has an annual turnover of £33m and employs 350 staff at seven sites in England and Scotland, has recently made a number of investments.

Earlier this year, the company acquired the latest in cutting technology, enabling it to create prototypes more efficiently.

In June, it invested £400,000 in a German-made coving machine which is being used to service DIY stores across the UK including Homebase, B and Q and Focus Do-It-All.