Amazon.com Inc. on Oct. 13 announced plans to open a new fulfillment center in northwest England, which will create 1,200 full-time permanent jobs as the online retail giant seeks to expand its U.K. network to meet increasing customer demand.

The new center in Bolton will be Amazon's third in the region, and it will be equipped with robotic technology.

Amazon will begin recruiting in 2018 for workers who will pick, pack and ship customer items such as books, toys and kitchenware.

The company currently has 16 fulfillment centers across the country. Since 2010, Amazon has invested £6.4 billion in the U.K. for research and development, the head office, and fulfillment and logistics infrastructure.