A £100,000 investment from UK Steel Enterprise will ensure that a leading technology company can manufacture its innovative products in the North East.

Durable Technologies Ltd, an award-winning company that designs highly cost-effective 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 will provide vital working capital to its manufacturing arm and has come from UKSE’s Equity Growth Fund, backed by the government’s Regional Growth Fund.

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 and necessary changes made.

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.

Alex Carter, managing director, said: "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." Mr Carter has 30 years experience in electronic design and started the company in 2008 with his wife, Lorraine.

Clients now include Twitter, Vodafone, Google and BAE and a major 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 state-of-the-art production line.

The company moved 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.

Mr Carter said: "We could not have done what we have done without being here and having UKSE’s support. 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."

Sarah Thorpe, of UKSE, said: "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 UKSE, have all played a significant part in ensuring this manufacturing project is established here in Teesside."