A SUBSEA engineering firm has secured major international contracts ahead of its move to a new factory.

Darlington-based Subsea Innovation Limited is working on deals across the offshore oil and gas sector.

The company will make 15 launch and recovery systems – which deploy subsea remoteoperated vehicles – for contractors, and will supply 3.5 tonne suction pile plugs for an Australian project. It will also manufacture seals and offshore pipeline repair clamps.

The firm is moving into a new 40,000sq ft site in the town’s Faverdale area to enable it to secure larger contracts.

The plant is expected to be fully operational in November, with its existing base used for equipment storage and some product manufacturing.

Martin Moon, managing director, said: “With significant investment in new premises that will treble our capacity, we aim to continue to compete for more contracts of a similar, if not larger scale.”

The company’s annual turnover exceeded £10 million for the first time in 2013 and it is expected to do the same this year.

The new plant is twice the size of its current home and will remove worries over height restrictions, opening up access for bigger jobs.

Mr Moon said: “We can put larger cranes in.

“Last year, I believe we would have got a big A-frame order if we had a bigger facility, so this move is a positive one.”