Schrader Electronics (www.schradercareers.com) is spending over £14 million in Northern Ireland on researching and developing products that address the increasingly complex engineering requirements of the automotive sector.

Part of Sensata Group, Schrader specialises in manufacturing direct tyre pressure monitoring systems — a critical safety mechanism to warn motorists when a tyre is significantly under-inflated.

Managing director Graeme Thompson said: “This significant investment will help to ensure that our R&D centre in Antrim grows and remains competitive. Indeed, our ambition is to develop an R&D centre of excellence in Northern Ireland.

“Demand in the wider automotive-sensors market is expected to grow significantly, due to factors such as the need to reduce emissions, the trend to autonomous cars, and new comfort and convenience features.

“We wish to remain ahead of the curve, and we are poised to offer our global customer base innovative technologies that will safeguard our competitiveness in the automotive industry.”

Alastair Hamilton, Invest NI CEO, said: “Invest Northern Ireland has offered Schrader £3 million of support towards its R&D investment in six projects, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

“The automotive sector is hugely competitive, and continuous innovation is necessary for Schrader to satisfy its customers’ needs and capitalise on new opportunities.”