DYSON is launching vacuum cleaners for the first time in America, just six days after closing production of the machines at its Malmesbury factory with the loss of 580 jobs.

Yesterday James Dyson was in New York for the American launch sharing the limelight with Sir Terence Conran at the latter's East 59th Street store where a Dyson exhibition is currently being held.

Mr Dyson said: "I am delighted that we can take British technology and engineering over to America.

"We look forward to hearing how Americans enjoy their Dysons."

The company's latest DC07 model will have double the suction power of other cleaners in the US and will be available across America in a few weeks.

Dyson currently sells in more than 25 countries worldwide, including Japan, Singapore, Russia and Israel and has the best selling vacuum cleaner in Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe.

Founder and inventor James Dyson's machines have received numerous awards for technological innovation including the Industrial Design Prize of America, the European Design Prize, the Super Good of the Year (Japan), and the L'Etoile de l'Observeur du Design (France).