The building on Sutton Road in Catfield is the new home of Sands Agricultural Machinery, which makes SAM crop sprayers.

The family-run company was founded by Neal Sands in 1973 to meet the burgeoning demand for self-propelled crop sprayers.

But having outgrown its previous base outside Stalham, production has now moved to the purpose-built new factory which is expected to make 45-50 hi-tech sprayers per year when up to full capacity.

Norfolk firm Sands Agricultural Machinery (SAM Sprayers) has opened a £4m new factory on Sutton Road in Catfield (Image: SAM) The total project cost includes £750,000 invested in expanded paint shops and a new shot blasting facility - a process previously outsourced at the old factory. Some of the costs were met with the help of government grants, as well as proceeds from the sale of the original premises.

Service facilities have been upgraded, with space for sprayer booms up to 40m wide to be fully opened for testing indoors, and there are improved training areas for sprayer operators.

Mr Sands is now one of three directors of the family firm alongside his wife Amanda and his son Thomas, who joined the company in 2005.

Thomas Sands said the main focus of the new factory was efficiency.

"We are a lot more efficient now, and with this new factory we can adapt to the farming market," he said. "If farming is going through a tougher........

© Norwich Evening News