A MANUFACTURING firm is preparing to expand only months after 45 jobs were secured when it was bought out.

Bonlea, which makes door kits and door sets for the house building and construction industry, is set for further expansion following its sale to Canadian firm Masonite International Corporation in March.

The Stockton company has increased its workforce to 52 and its manufacturing space by a further 40,000sq ft since the takeover.

Gordon Marron, operations director at Bonlea, first set up the business with three colleagues when they spotted a gap in the market after being made redundant by another door manufacturer.

He said of the takeover: "The directors felt that they had taken the company as far as they could in terms of not putting it at risk, and this was the perfect opportunity for the business to grow further alongside a preferred partner that Bonlea has worked with from the start."

Eric Whitehouse, account manager at Business Link, played an important role in helping the company through its development.

He said: "Bonlea is a prime example of what can be achieved if the will, determination and sheer belief in oneself and the people around you is there.

"In the case of Bonlea, it was there from the very beginning."