SPECIALISTS from the embedded computer industry attended the official opening of the VadaTech European Centre at the Houndsdown Business Park in Totton.

The new £2 million building designed by Southampton architects Boyle & Summers and constructed by Fareham’s Amiri Construction was opened by VadaTech’s CEO Saeed Karamooz, with VadaTech’s managing director in Europe, Ian Shearer.

Ian said that Saeed Karamooz was impressed with the build quality of the new site, which was completed on time and on budget.

“It was a proud moment for Saeed to visit the UK from our headquarters in Nevada and have the opportunity to meet many of our European business partners,” said Ian.

“This new centre is an integral part of the company’s global expansion, fuelled by growth in our communications and military and aero markets.”

VadaTech have moved to Totton from the Innovation Centre in Southampton’s Ocean Village to enable the recruitment of specialist staff over the next few years.

This will be needed to meet the demand for innovative embedded computing solutions, with major projects including communication, radar and sonar systems.

For the first five years the top floor of the new building would be leased out.

VadaTech, a privately owned company, was founded five years ago in Nevada and has 120 employees worldwide. Its customers include British Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Ericsson and CERN.