16656WESTINGHOUSE Brakes is cutting its 70-year-old tie with Chippenham even further, by changing the firm's name as it finalises the move to Melksham.

The rail firm will unveil its new multi-million pound factory in Hampton Park East, Melksham, on March 26.

Bosses have already transferred much of the Chippenham work to the new headquarters and have relaunched the company under the name Knorr-Bremse Rail Services.

Managing director Paul Johnson is due to outline the future of the business, which has recently secured lucrative rail contracts in London, at a business breakfast with the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce today.

He said: "We think the new name better reflects the wide range of rail products and services that the company now provides.

"In addition to our role of developing new braking technology, Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems is also responsible for service and maintenance on all Knorr-Bremse products in the UK and Ireland under the new rail services banner.

"We also operate Westinghouse Platform Screen Doors as the global platform screen systems business of the Knorr-Bremse Group.

"These exciting developments, combined with the move to our superb new facility, mark the start of an exciting new era for our company. This is therefore exactly the right time for the new name and identity."

The £10m 10,000 sq ft factory has engineering, production, testing, a paint shop, logistics, distribution, customer services and sales and marketing all under one roof.

Building work began at the end of 2003 and although many of the 300 staff have already made the nine-mile move the factory will be fully active next month.

Mr Johnson said: "We are delighted with our new facility, which will result in us being able to provide even higher levels of service."

The 300,000 sq ft factory at Langley Park, Chippenham, the firm will leave vacant will be offered for rent to other businesses before the owners make a decision on its future.