California-based MA Silva USA has opened a new manufacturing facility in Santa Maria de Feira, Portugal.

The 64,500ft building will produce sparkling and technical cork closures.

The firm has invested $4.1m to equip the facility with state-of-the-art technology. The new facility has created 35 jobs.

MA Silva USA president Neil Foster said: "I founded MA Silva USA 17 years ago with Manual Alves Silva, founder of MA Silva Portugal, a family-owned and operated company with a 45-year history of wine cork manufacturing.

"The firm has invested $4.1m to equip the facility with state-of-the-art technology."

"The vertical integration of our companies combined with our rigorous quality and testing standards ensures that we deliver the finest premium cork closures to the North American wine industry, meeting and exceeding our customers' expectations.

"This expansion is ultimately the result of the substantial growth we've seen in the cork business over the last years. It will allow us to significantly increase our technical cork production."

MA Silva USA is based in California, and is a manufacturer of premium natural corks, glass, and packaging for North American markets. The company's facilities operate on solarpower.