Successful West Yorkshire exporter, A-Safe is targeting further overseas expansion after securing an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK.

With its headquarters in Elland, from where the company designs and manufacturers all its protective barriers, A-Safe supplies car parks, airports, factories and warehouses across Europe, the Middle East, the US and Asia.

Thanks to the backing of HSBC UK, the business will be able to purchase new German and Austrian-made machinery, upgrading its 75,000 sq ft factory and allowing it to increase production by up to 40 per cent and also to significantly reduce waste.

The investment is expected to create 50 new jobs in the next 12 months.

In addition, A-Safe is boosting its presence in Italy by commissioning a new distribution centre in Milan. Due to be completed in 2020, it will allow the business to respond more quickly to large orders from customers across Europe.

Adrian Banks, finance director of A-Safe, said: "Since inventing the world's first fixed polymer safety barrier in 2001, our products and technology have evolved considerably. We never stand still, and we're now ramping up production of our next generation safety barriers and introducing them to markets around the globe. With HSBC UK's financial backing and can-do attitude to international trade, we're ideally positioned to realise our ambitious growth plans."

Mark Watson, relationship director for North & West Yorkshire at HSBC UK, added: "A-Safe is a fine example of an innovative Yorkshire business that's keen to make strategic investments to raise productivity and operate in foreign markets. This is an exciting time for manufacturing and we look forward to seeing the business create a significant amount of jobs in the region."

A-Safe supplies a number of blue chip companies including Coca-Cola, DHL, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota and IBM. It employs 260 people at its Calderdale headquarters.