Coun Gerald Smith, cabinet member for regeneration and development services at RMBC, and Karl Battersby, RMBC strategic director for environment and development services, were provided with a tour around the 20,000 sq ft facility.

Dormer Tools, part of the Swedish-based Sandvik Group, is relocating from its current base, at the Shireoaks Road site, in Worksop, to the Advanced Manufacturing Park on the boundary of Rotherham and Sheffield.

The building, which will house a research and development facility, training centre and an international export service, is expected to open by the end of the year.

Dormer has grown from a traditional South Yorkshire cutting tool manufacturer to one of the world's largest producers of solid carbide and high,speed steel cutting tools.

John O'Donoghue, general manager of Dormer Tools UK, said: "This is an exciting development, not just for the company but for the local area
as well.

"The new building will offer a great opportunity for organisations from South Yorkshire and around the world to see at first hand the creation of new and innovative cutting tools."

Coun Smith added: "It's exciting to see a world-player such as this bringing its quality engineering into Rotherham."