Dyson has officially opened its new global headquarters in Singapore.
The company - known for its vacuum cleaners and fans - will be based in the restored St James Power Station building on the island city-state.
The company's billionaire founder and owner Sir James Dyson and the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong attended the opening of the 110,000 sq ft facility.
The firm’s new base includes 18 state-of-the-art research laboratories which Dyson said would help it to enter “entirely new” fields of research, and develop new products with “increasing inbuilt intelligence.”
Sir James, chief engineer at Dyson, said, “This cathedral-like building, its rich history and architectural heritage will serve as a most inspiring backdrop quarters as we pursue revolutionary new technologies.”
Dyson recently launched its largest ever recruitment drive for engineering and digital roles to date, as it looks to take on more than 2,000 staff globally in 2022.
This includes plans to create more than 900 UK-based roles at its Wiltshire campus sites at Malmesbury and Hullavington Airfield and its software and technology hub in Bristol city centre.
Across its South East Asia operations Dyson is also looking to expand its teams in Malaysia and the Philippines with 300 new roles.
The business, which reported revenue growth of 5% to £6bn for 2021, has said it will spend £600m on technology, facilities, and laboratories this year, as part of a £2.75bn investment plan announced in 2020.
Sir James, a prominent Brexit supporter, was criticised and accused of hypocrisy when Dyson first announced plans to re-locateits HQ to Singapore in 2019. The company said at the time the move had “nothing to do” with the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Since 1993, Dyson has invested more than £1bn in its Wiltshire offices and laboratories that house the early-stage research, design and development of its technology.
Built in 1927, St James Power Station served as Singapore’s first coal-fired power station. decommissioned in 1975. It then became Southeast Asia’s first automated warehouse from 1984 to 1992, and then later an entertainment and nightclub venue until 2018.
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