A vital £100,000 funding boost has helped a technology company to manufacture its products in the North-East rather than overseas.

Durable Technologies Ltd, the award-winning company that designs lighting control systems for use in large buildings from offices and colleges to hospitals, is based at UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre in Hartlepool.

The £100,000 equity and loan investment from UK Steel Enterprise will provide vital working capital to its manufacturing arm.

The company’s LightHarvester, a combined light detector and controller now has Bluetooth technology and its own app so the light and energy parameters can be accessed remotely on iPhones and iPads.

With manufacturing now in-house, the company expects to double its workforce to 12 and its turnover to around £600,000 in the next 12 months.

The company made the decision to move production to the UK after initially having parts made in Croatia. Having started out in one small office at the Innovation Centre it now occupies two of the largest units.

“We could not have done what we have done without being here and having UK Steel Enterprise’s support,” said Alex Carter, managing director who started the company in 2008 with his wife Lorraine. He added: “Finding finance is not easy for smaller companies as funders can be risk averse and this £100,000 is vital at this stage to move production forward.

“We can manufacture quicker and cheaper here than overseas, are constantly developing new products to ensure we continue to lead the field and are committed to using local suppliers.”

“This is the third generation of the product and the smartest. “Trials of the first installations have shown a reduction of 80 per cent in lighting costs.”

Clients now include Twitter, Vodafone, Google and BAE and a major OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) agreement to supply components to electrical manufacturer Hager, based in France, has benefitted the company in a number of ways, including the creation of a production line.

Sarah Thorpe of UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, said: “We aim to provide the type of finance that smaller businesses can find difficult to access elsewhere.

“Durable Technologies was one of the first companies to move in here and we also helped with two small loans in the company’s early days. We are delighted to provide this £100,000 investment to its manufacturing arm and it demonstrates our confidence in the company’s prospects for growth.”

Tony Luckett of business advisers Clive Owen LLP said: “We have worked with Durable Technologies for many years and the recent input from the Manufacturing Advisory Service and North East BIC alongside the continued support and investment from UK Steel Enterprise have all played a significant part in ensuring this manufacturing project is established here in Teesside.”