A manufacturing firm has opened a new facility in Stoke-on-Trent creating 40 jobs - with plans for more soon. 

CLA Fabrications opened its state-of-the-art power coating facility in Cobridge in August where it treats and coats metal fencing and railings. 

The manufacturer has already employed 40 people at the factory and with plans to move to a 24-hour operation at the site, there are hopes this will increase to around 70 workers within the coming months.

The company now sends fencing from where it is manufactured at CLA Fabrications in Wednesbury to Stoke-on-Trent, where it is treated and coated before being distributed around the UK. 

Craig McEvoy, managing director at the Cobridge site, said: "We were quite fortunate as some of the people who applied already have some experience in similar roles and we also have some people new to it as well. We had a boat-load of applications.

"We set the plant up originally to be as efficient as possible - so lowering the carbon footprint and making sure we are running as green as we possibly can.

"So everyone is walking into brand new equipment. We have the latest and most economical versions of everything you can get so we hope that it will pay off in the long run.

CLA Fabirication's finishing site is based on Milburn Road in Cobridge. (Supplied)

"It is not as straightforward as people always think, there is a little bit of science and technology behind power coating.

"Everything is automated here so there is little manual input. So we pre-set the parameters of the chemicals and temperatures

"It's a bit of a prototype on this site as because this is a busy site and there is a lot of demand for what we do so we are just working it out now. "

Alongside its usual orders, the manufacturer, which has invested around £2.5 million in the Stoke-on-Trent site, is also opening its service up to local businesses in the area that need products treating and coating in colours.

CLA says it decided on Stoke-on-Trent as there are already workers with experience working in the area due to other power coating facilities and manufacturers operating in the city.

The fencing after being coated at CLA Fabrications in Stoke-on-Trent. (Supplied)

There has also been investment into green technology, electric forklift trucks and a new water treatment facility, so water used in the process can be drained away safely.

Craig added: "Everyone is walking into brand new equipment as well. We have the latest and most economical versions of everything you can get so we hope that will pay off in the long run.

"It's in the news a lot about jobs being cut, so it's good to see the company creating jobs and opportunities for families in the area."