A FRENCH manufacturer of environmentally friendly equipment for the waste industry has chosen Kent over London as the location of its new UK headquarters.

Fifty jobs will be created when Ecoprocess adds an assembly plant to its new premises at Questor Business Park in Dartford.

Currently made in France, Ecoprocess’s bin lifts are more efficient, cost effective, safer and environmentally friendly than hydraulic bin lifts and are regarded by the industry as a revolutionary product.

The company was introduced to the benefits of the county by inward investment agency Locate in Kent.

Managing director Jose Diaz-Lara said: "When we discussed the options available to us here it soon became apparent there was no need for us to consider moving to London.

"Locate in Kent gave us valuable support and information about the skilled labour resources. We have customers throughout Europe, as well as offices in France, so great transport links with the continent were another strong deciding factor.

"We are very excited about what the future holds and grateful to Locate in Kent for all the help they have given us with the relocation.

"We are continuing to work together and are hopeful that it will not be long before we are building our revolutionary electric bin lifts here."