Although Werma’s towers and other signalling products have been available through UK distributors for the past five years, the new subsidiary – Werma’s third outside its German home territory – will allow the company to respond rapidly to customer demands and to offer a technical service.

The UK is already Werma’s largest market outside Germany, accounting for 16% of its export sales last year. The company, founded in 1950, achieved sales worth around £14m in 2006, 34% of this coming from exports. As well as manufacturing in Germany, Werma has a subsidiary in China producing for the Asian market.

Signals towers account for 43% of Werma’s sales, but it also makes other products, including buzzers, beacons and Ex-proof devices.