WEIR Group is spending £70 million to more than double the size of its operations in Malaysia.

The money will be spent over the next three years adding an additional foundry, a machine shop and a second rubber processing plant at a 55-acre site around 43 miles south-east of Kuala Lumpur.

The move will see Weir increase employee numbers from 400 to more than 1000 as it gears up to increase capacity in the Asia-Pacific region.

The rubber line will be used to provide Linatex products, which are used in the mining industry, while the foundry and shop will produce castings for the power and mining sectors.

Separately Weir said its valve manufacturing facility in Elland, West Yorkshire, would double production levels this year to keep up with demand from global markets.