A new £3m European headquarters for one of the world's leading suppliers of biomedical research products is a vote of confidence in Abingdon, said the company's American president.

Opening the new building at the Abingdon Science Park in Barton Lane, Tom Oland said the company had considered moving elsewhere, but had decided to keep faith with its workforce in Abing- don.

Mr Oland, head of R&D Systems based in Minneapolis, said: "We have been in Abingdon for many years and built up a loyal and hard-working staff where the work ethic is good, so we decided to move into better, purpose-built premises just down the road from our old building.

"It is a vote of confidence in our workforce and the town."

R&D Systems Abingdon is the main marketing and distribution centre for the products used in biomedical research into disease conditions such as Aids, cancer and inflammation. There are 50 employees and more are expected to be recruited later this year.

Research and development is carried out in the company's main base in Minneapolis and the European sales headquarters is in Wiesbaden near Frankfurt, Germany

Originally part of Oxford-based British Biotech, the distribution arm was sold off in 1993 to the American company.

The Mayor of Abingdon, David Allinson, said: "R&D System's decision to stay and build up here is very good news."