Wade Ceramics has unveiled £1.2 million of new robotic production equipment as part of a strategy to increase exports.The Burslem company plans to use the investment to tap into the soaring Chinese and Indian whisky market.

As previously reported by The Sentinel, the company estimates it could reap an extra £20 million of sales by making whisky decanters for the two countries.

It forms part of a two-year shift of operations from the firm's historic base in Westport Road, Burslem, to a state-of-the-art factory in Etruria Valley.

Chairman Edward Duke said the move was designed to provide "jobs for life" for the 146-strong workforce.

He told The Sentinel last month: "The future for Wade is still here in Stoke-on-Trent, with the state-of-the-art robotic equipment providing the only way we can compete against the low labour costs in the Far East."