A HI-TECH laser measurement technology business has invested in a multi-million pound expansion, including a move into new premises in York.

Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL) has re-located its European, African and Asian sales and technical support office, into £1.1million new offices at Acer House, Northminster Business Park, Upper Poppleton, and aims to employ up to ten more production and sales staff before the end of the year.

Coupled with the expansion is the relocation of the company's laser systems division from its Aberdeen headquarters to York where it is also recruiting more production technicians, test engineers and programmers.

As well as the cost of the new purpose-built, two-storey 6,000 sq ft premises, MDL, which this year launched a new laser system for scanning underground cavities, is investing £600,000 in new equipment and the transfer of assets from Aberdeen to York.

MDL, founded in Scotland in 1983 and with an office in Houston, Texas, serving the Americas and Canada, is a world pioneer of laser measurement technology, positioning and navigation systems for the mining, civil engineering, construction, shipping and traffic control industries, and the UK's largest designer, manufacturer and supplier of the technology. Now, with more than 40 staff and more than 60 agents worldwide, MDL first launched in North Yorkshire at small premises at Castle Howard in 1999 and moved to 1,250 sq ft offices elsewhere in Northminster Business Park, York, two years ago.

The company's new offices were officially opened this week by Vale of York MP, Anne McIntosh, at an open day attended by business partners, customers and suppliers.

Steve Ball, MDL's founder and managing director, said: "York is an ideal location from which to serve our markets in Europe, Africa and Asia and for our customers and partners from those areas to visit us."