SDC Trailers, of Toomebridge, is to take on 50 staff by the end of the year after winning a number of new contracts.
Earlier this month, the County Antrim company announced that it had won a £10 million contract from rental company Hireco for 600 new trailers. This follows a £1.25 million order in February to deliver 60 trailers to the Saudi Arabian Rezayat Group.
SDC currently has almost 800 employees, about 570 of them in Northern Ireland (it also has a base in Mansfield). Chief executive Mark Cuskeran said that the company was forced to scale back its workforce in 2008 when the financial crisis occurred, but it has added 170 new staff in the last 12 months.
Stephen Kelly, of Manufacturing Northern Ireland, said: “The headlines are often made by foreign direct investments, but the news from SDC is evidence that our indigenous businesses are competing internationally, creating well-paid sustainable jobs and strengthening local communities as a result.
“SDC Trailers and great local companies like them are very important. As the global economy begins to strengthen, it is critical that the Government supports their growth and works to create a business-friendly environment — particularly in terms of energy costs — which means that they can compete internationally.”