A Co Tyrone company is investing more than £4 million to increase sales of steel and galvanised lintels for the building industry. The move is expected to lead to the creation of more than 60 new jobs over a four-year period.

Keystone Lintels was set up in 1989 and, as well as the production facility and headquarters in Cookstown, it also has a sales depot in the West Midlands. The company currently employs 80 people and its turnover last year was £5.6 million, a figure which is expected to rise to more than £10 million by the year 2001.

The managing director, Mr Sean Coyle, said it was vital that the company continued to invest in what was a fiercely competitive market. "This investment will enable us to increase our market share," Mr Coyle said, "and to further develop and market the Keystone brand in Britain. This will be achieved mainly through increased sales and technical staff."

The project involves the building of a new 55,000 square foot production facility, and the installation of a semi-automated line for a new "developer" lintel which uses 22 per cent less steel than standard lintels.

"The new factory will provide us with much-needed space to install the new plant and machinery," Mr Coyle said. "That will enable us to improve our production capabilities, and to offer the new low-cost developer lintel to the UK building industry."

The investment is being supported by a grant of £870,000 from the IDB.