A COMPANY which provides life-saving protection for troops when they come under attack from roadside bombs is setting up its UK base in Gloucestershire.

American-owned ArmourWorks International is bringing new jobs and investment with its move to a 14,000sq ft premises in Gloucester Business Park in Brockworth.

ArmourWorks produces the special blast attenuation seats designed to protect troops who come under attack in army vehicles – especially from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which have taken a huge toll in Afghanistan.

Managing director Ian Richards said the seats would be designed and produced at Gloucester Business Park. Stonehouse-based Omega Group is already recruiting for ArmourWorks, with the aim of employing 20 by the end of the year. By the end of the year there will be 20 people working on site, with recruitment under way through the Stonehouse-based Omega Group.

The company will also be subcontracting out work to other firms in the county, including Permali Gloucester, a world leader in composite materials for the aerospace, defence, rail, marine and medical markets.

“The focus here will be limited production and research and development and next-generation technology,” said Ian Richards. “We are acquiring a company in London and moving that technology here.”

Gloucester was well placed because of defence establishments and firms in Bristol, the Midlands and Tewkesbury.

The blast attenuation seats will be going into the new Ocelot armoured vehicles, which have been given the name Foxhound for British forces in Afghanistan and will replace the more vulnerable Snatch Land Rover.

Mr Richards said the shockwaves from explosions such as IEDs could cause terrible injuries to soldiers travelling in armoured vehicles, especially to the spine.

The blast attenuation seats were specially designed to absorb the force of the blast

The explosion of a mine or IED beneath a vehicle can create shock waves that are more destructive than the impact of the vehicle dropping 100 feet. The seats built by Armourworks are designed to absorb this force.

Mr Richards said the 14,000sq ft building his company was leasing on Gloucester Business Park was well positioned with good communications.

The Gloucester base will also produce “intelligent textiles” which carry signals and current for the array of electronic devices carried by troops and remove the need for cabling to run through military clothing.

Robert Smith, of the Gloucester based property consultancy ASH&Co, which handled the deal, said: “It is good for the county, providing new jobs and investment.The quality of the building and Gloucester Business Park were key to securing ArmourWorks to come to this location.”

Jenny Pitcher, inward investment manager for Gloucestershire First, the economic partnership, said: “We received the inquiry and worked with ASH&Co. We are keen to attract hi-tech business and try to work closely with the local agents.”

She added that many companies were still investigating possible moves to the county.

“Last year, despite the recession, we had 800 inquiries.”