A leading manufacturing company which has bounced back from the depths of the recession has added a newly-built £4 million extension to its Aire Valley production base to meet expanding demand.

Denso Marston, which makes radiators and other engine-cooling devices for most of the world’s major truck, tractor and electric generation industries, has added around 40,000sq ft of production space as well as research, product development and testing facilities to its factory on Otley Road, Baildon.

The new building also provides room for future growth at the firm, which is Japanese-owned Denso Europe’s manufacturing centre for thermal cooling systems for the construction, industrial and agricultural sectors.

Managing director David Hanson said there were also prospects for further job creation over the next year or so at the plant, which employs more than 750 people.

Employment levels at Denso Marston have bounced back since the firm axed 140 jobs in 2009 during tough trading conditions and part of the original factory was mothballed.

Mr Hanson said more than 50 people had been taken on in 2012, following recruitment of around 200 in the previous two years.

He said: “The investment of £4 million-plus in the new extension shows a real commitment by Denso to the Baildon operation. The extra space enables us to achieve greater efficiency by remodelling the site and reorganisaing our production processes. It will also allow for expansion to meet future demand.

“We continue to win business from Europe, the United States and other global markets as well as the UK, and the outlook for continued growth looks good at present.”

The new extension was officially opened by Manfredo Nicolelli. chief executive of Denso Systems Europe at an event attended by civic leaders, key customers and contacts Mr Hanson said the new part of the factory would be fully operational by the first quarter of next year, boosting the company’s current annual output of around 250,000 radiators.

The development includes a new tube mill, and two new machines will also be installed this year.

Demand for its products is being driven partly by increasingly strict emission laws around the world, requiring Denso to develop ‘next-generation’ equipment, as well as improving economic activity in several the company’s markets.

Mr Hanson said the Baildon plant produced bespoke rather than off-the-shelf components and its record as a recognised centre of excellence was also boosting demand for its services.